Monopar Receives Clearance to Proceed With First-in-Human Phase 1 Trial of Novel Radiopharmaceutical MNPR-101-Zr in Advanced Cancers
Monopar Therapeutics Inc. recently announced it has received Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) clearance in Australia to commence a Phase 1 dosimetry trial of its novel radiopharmaceutical MNPR-101-Zr.
The MNPR-101-Zr Phase 1 dosimetry clinical trial will enroll patients with advanced cancers and will utilize positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to assess tumor uptake, normal organ biodistribution, and safety.
MNPR-101-Zr is a zirconium-89 (imaging radioisotope) labeled version of MNPR-101, Monopar’s proprietary first-in-class humanized monoclonal antibody that is highly selective against the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). PET imaging studies in preclinical xenograft models of triple-negative breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers displayed high and selective uptake of MNPR-101-Zr in these uPAR-expressing tumors. The imaging results, along with corresponding in vivo efficacy studies with actinium-225 (Ac-225, a powerful alpha-emitting therapeutic radioisotope) bound to MNPR-101 in preclinical xenograft tumor models, support the development MNPR-101 as a targeted radiopharmaceutical for multiple advanced cancer indications.
“This is a significant milestone for Monopar,” said Chandler Robinson, MD, Monopar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Following more than 18 months of extensive preclinical development, we believe we are well-positioned in this space. This is our first human clinical trial using our uPAR targeting agent. There has been quite impressive clinical data generated in the radiopharma sector of late, such as against PSMA and SSTR2 expressing cancers, and we believe this to be just the beginning.”
If the tumor uptake, biodistribution, and safety look encouraging in this Phase 1 clinical trial, which is anticipated to enroll around 12 patients and to initiate in the near future, the plan is to evaluate the efficacy in humans of a therapeutically radio-labeled version of MNPR-101 bound to an isotope such as Ac-225.
Monopar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing innovative treatments for cancer patients. Monopar’s pipeline consists of Phase 1b-stage camsirubicin for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma; Phase 1-stage MNPR-101 for radiopharmaceutical use in advance cancers; and an early-stage camsirubicin analog, MNPR-202. For more information, visit www.monopartx.com.
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