Telix and Nihon Medi-Physics to Collaborate on Renal Cancer Imaging for the Japanese Market

MELBOURNE, Australia and KYOTO, Japan and TOKYO, Aug. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX.TLX) (“Telix”, the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or “molecularly-targeted radiation” (MTR), and Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd. (“NMP”), a leading manufacturer and supplier of radiopharmaceuticals and related products in Japan, have today announced that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a commercial partnership in renal cancer imaging for the Japanese market.

The agreement between Telix and NMP is focused on Telix’s TLX250 imaging program for renal cancer with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Under the terms of the agreement, Telix and NMP will work together to establish a commercial partnership for TLX250 in Japan, with the objective of appointing NMP as an exclusive partner for the product in Japan. NMP will also support Telix in the near-term goal of including Japanese patients in Telix’s global Phase III development program for TLX250.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Japan President, Dr. Shintaro Nishimura, stated, “NMP is a leading company in the Japanese radiopharmaceutical landscape with a strong track record of stable supply of PET imaging agents. As we develop our Japanese regulatory strategy for TLX250, we are pleased to have the experience and guidance of NMP.”

NMP President, Mr. Hisashi Shimoda noted, “The technologies in which diagnostics and therapeutics are integrated will become increasingly important to the personalized medicine strategy for cancer treatment. TLX250 has the potential to become one of the best PET products in this field. Our goal is to identify and enrich our portfolio by new products and technologies that meet unmet medical need. It is our pleasure to collaborate with Telix to deliver new renal imaging capabilities to Japanese patients.”

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or “molecularly-targeted radiation” (MTR). The company is headquartered in Melbourne with international operations in Brussels (EU), Kyoto (JP) and Indianapolis (US). Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage oncology products that address significant unmet medical need in renal, prostate and brain (glioblastoma) cancer. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com.

About TLX250

TLX250 (Girentuximab) is being developed by Telix Pharmaceuticals both as a diagnostic PET agent - ⁸⁹Zr-Girentuximab (Phase III) and a therapeutic drug – ¹⁷⁷Lu-Girentuximab (Phase II). TLX250 is an antibody-based platform that targets carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a cell surface target that is over-expressed in several serious cancers, including renal, lung and esophageal cancer. High CAIX tumour expression is generally correlated with poor prognosis.

Telix has prioritized the development of TLX250 for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC), particularly the clear cell variant (ccRCC), which almost ubiquitously over-expresses CAIX.

About Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd.

Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd. engages in the research, development, manufacture, sale, purchase, and import/export of radioactive pharmaceuticals, as well as radioactive medical devices and their related products for hospitals in Japan. It offers single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) diagnostic agents and positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic agents that offer diagnostic information from various aspects ranging from morphological images to functional changes in blood flow and metabolism; and Iodine-125 radioactive seeds, a medical device for brachytherapy, as well as radiopharmaceutical products to palliate the pain caused by cancer with bone metastasis. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd. operates as a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited and GE Healthcare Limited.

Important Information

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “US Securities Act”), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States, unless the securities have been registered under the US Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act is available.

None of the products described in this release have obtained a marketing authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration or the Japanese PMDA.

 

Telix Corporate Contact
                    Dr Christian Behrenbruch
                    Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
                    CEO
                    Email: chris@telixpharma.com
                    
                    Telix Investor Relations (US)
                    Lisa Wilson
                    In-Site Communications
                    Tel: +1 212 452 2793
                    Email: lwilson@insitecony.com
                    
                    Telix Investor Relations (Australia)
                    Kyahn Williamson
                    WE Buchan
                    Tel: +61 (3) 9866 4722
                    Email: kwilliamson@buchanwe.com.au
                    
                    Nihon Medi-Physics Contacts (Japan)
                    Hiroyuki Okudaira
                    Research & Business Development Dept.
                    Tel: +81 3 6680 8933
                    Email: hiroyuki_okudaira@nmp.co.jp
                    
                    Corporate Communication
                    Tel: +81 3 5634 7006