Cellectar makes its radiopharma pitch
Some big names have been getting into radiophamaceuticals lately, but it was a little name that grabbed the headlines today. Cellectar Biosciences climbed 24% this morning on topline phase 2 data that could pave the way for a filing later this year for iopofosine I-131 in the niche of late-line Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. Still, the group is only worth around $40m. Cellectar touted a 61% major response rate in the uncontrolled Clover-WaM trial, among 41 evaluable third-line or later patients, in half of whom BTK inhibitors had failed. Major response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction in IgM. This is above the 4-12% seen with current third-line plus therapies, according to Cellectar. A filing is slated for the second half of this year. Iopofosine I-131 comprises the radioisotope iodine-131, conjugated to a phospholipid; it is designed to target cancer cells, which Cellectar says have more "lipid rafts" versus ordinary cells. This contrasts with current radiopharmaceuticals, which link radioisotopes to specific targeting ligands. If Iopofosine I-131 is approved, Cellectar will be targeting around 4,000 US patients with third-line or later Waldenström's. The group is banking on not needing its own production facilities, instead highlighting a “multi-source” network of manufacturers.
IgM response rates with iopofosine I-131
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