Full Press Release Details
Builds on Companies’ respective core strengths
Aligns intellectual property rights
Establishes a long-term supply agreement under which NorthStar provides actinium-225 for Monopar’s development and potential future commercial programs
WILMETTE, Ill. and Beloit, Wis., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: MNPR), a clinical-stage radiopharma company, and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, a global innovator in development and commercial production of medical radioisotopes, today announced an amendment and expansion to their existing collaboration. Under terms of the revised collaboration, the Companies entered into a long-term, non-exclusive master supply agreement for NorthStar to provide Monopar with the powerful therapeutic radioisotope actinium-225 (Ac-225). The amendment builds on NorthStar’s significant investment in Ac-225 manufacturing and Monopar’s promising preclinical therapeutic results with Ac-225 in its lead MNPR-101 radiopharma program.
The amendment also clarifies certain economic terms and those related to jointly developed intellectual property rights for Monopar’s MNPR-101 for radiopharmaceutical use. Monopar has acquired those rights from NorthStar, together with certain broad, jointly developed intellectual property pertaining to MNPR-101, giving Monopar full ownership and title to its lead MNPR-101 radiopharmaceutical platform. Both companies will share ownership of the filed patent application on the use of PCTA as a linker with Ac-225, which has shown superior binding and yield with Ac-225 over the current industry-leading linker, DOTA.
“We are excited about the evolution of our collaboration, the promising potential of the MNPR-101 radiopharma platform, and the long-term access to a high-quality source of Ac-225 that can support our current development programs and potential future commercial products,” said Chandler Robinson, MD, Monopar’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Using our proprietary electron accelerator technology, NorthStar is poised to be the first commercial-scale producer of non-carrier added (n.c.a.) Ac-225. We’re delighted to continue and extend our collaboration with Monopar and support development of its exciting MNPR-101 radiopharma platform focused on therapeutic agents to treat aggressive cancers,” said Frank Scholz, PhD, NorthStar’s Chief Executive Officer.
About Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Monopar)
Monopar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for cancer patients, including Phase 1-stage MNPR-101-Zr for imaging advanced cancers and late preclinical-stage MNPR-101 radio-immuno-therapeutic (RIT) for the treatment of advanced cancers. For more information, visit: www.monopartx.com.
About NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC (NorthStar)
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is a commercial-stage radiopharmaceutical company at the forefront of advancing patient care by utilizing novel technologies to produce commercial-scale radioisotopes that, once attached to a molecule, have the ability to detect and treat cancer and other serious diseases. NorthStar’s expanding industry-leading position in the emerging field of radiopharmaceutical therapy is supported by its unique capabilities in the sophisticated production of radioisotopes, proven management team, and state-of-the-art, environmentally preferable technologies. NorthStar routinely produces copper-67 (Cu-67) and is poised to be the first commercial-scale producer of non-carrier-added (n.c.a.) actinium-225 (Ac-225). The Company’s Radiopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services unit provides customized service offerings and specialized radiopharmaceutical expertise to help biopharmaceutical companies rapidly advance their development and commercial programs. For more information about NorthStar’s comprehensive portfolio and patient-focused services, visit: www.northstarnm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning: that NorthStar will provide actinium-225 for Monopar’s development and potential future commercial programs; the promising potential of Monopar’s MNPR-101 radiopharma platform, and the long-term access to a high-quality source of Ac-225 that can support Monopar’s current development programs and potential future commercial products; that NorthStar is poised to be the first commercial-scale producer of non-carrier added (n.c.a.) Ac-225; and that NorthStar will continue to support development of Monopar’s exciting MNPR-101 radiopharma platform focused on therapeutic agents to treat aggressive cancers. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: that Monopar’s and shared intellectual property may not result in allowed patents; that if allowed, the patents may be too narrow in scope to provide protection needed to successfully develop the radiopharma program; that NorthStar may not be able to supply Ac-225 at quantities needed, if at all; that NorthStar may not be the first commercial-scale producer of n.c.a. Ac-225; that Monopar may expend available funds sooner than anticipated or require additional funding due to change in circumstances or unanticipated events; that future preclinical or clinical data will not be as promising as the data to date; not successfully enrolling the MNPR-101-Zr Phase 1 clinical trial if at all; that MNPR-101-Zr and/or MNPR-101 conjugated to a therapeutic radioisotope may cause unexpected serious adverse effects or fail to image or be effective against the cancer tumors in humans; and the significant general risks and uncertainties surrounding the research, development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of imaging agents and therapeutics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in Monopar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Monopar undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Monopar’s and/or NorthStar’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.
For Monopar Therapeutics Inc.
Chief Financial Officer
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For NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC :
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Vice President, Chief of Staff