ITM Isotopen Technologien München AG (ITM), a biotechnology and radiopharmaceutical group of companies, invited to a virtual satellite symposium at the EANM Congress on reviewing “Challenges and Innovative Approaches in the Management of Osteoblastic Metastatic Disease”. For the first time in history, the EANM Congress took place in an exclusively digital format that combined a virtual trade show with scientific sessions. Under the chair of Professor Andrei Iagaru, Palo Alto, CA, U.S, who moderated the interdisciplinary session, experts in the field of nuclear medicine and oncology were invited to speak: Professor Robert E. Coleman, University of Sheffield, Professor Oliver Sartor, Tulane Cancer Center New Orleans, and Professor Wolfgang Weber, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Munich.
Each speaker presented different aspects regarding the management of osteoblastic metastatic disease. With Professor Coleman giving an introduction about the underlying pathophysiology of what is a common problem of high unmet medical need in patients with cancer. He noted that while significant advances have been made in the past, there are still many uncertainties in understanding the pathogenesis of metastatic bone disease, in particular, the complex interactions between disseminated cancer cells, the bone microenvironment and tumor dormancy. These interactions are of great importance and offer potential for the development of specific therapeutic targeting.
Professor Sartor focused on the current and future management paradigms of metastatic bone disease in castrate-resistant prostate cancer. This topic is particularly relevant as about 90 percent of patients suffering from this disease develop bone metastases. Targeted therapeutic agents such as Lutetium-177 (177Lu) and Actinium-225 (225Ac) linked to PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen) binding molecules were identified as promising approaches for disease management.
Professor Weber spoke about future radiopharmaceutical treatment options for primary and metastatic bone cancer. He confirmed the role of tumor cell targeted approaches such as 177Lu-PSMA and 225Ac-PSMA and discussed novel targets in tumor stroma and bone formation. These bone targeted therapies have the potential to complement other cancer treatment modalities, e.g. hormone-, chemo-, immune-, DNA-repair-therapy and therefore combination therapies should be further explored.
Philip E Harris, CMO of ITM commented: “ITM’s Satellite Symposium at this year’s virtual EANM presented scientific concepts, data and perspectives on the management of osteoblastic bone metastases, shown and discussed by four experts in nuclear medicine and oncology. It created a platform for interactive discussions on novel concepts and clinical approaches to the management of patients with metastatic bone disease. This is a clinical area of high unmet medical need, in which ITM is committed to advancing therapeutic options available to improve patients’ lives.”
A recording of the complete symposium including the ensuing discussion is available to Healthcare Professionals at www.itm-radiopharma.com.
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About Targeted Radionuclide Therapy
Targeted Radionuclide Therapy is a medical specialty using very small amounts of radioactive compounds, called radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose and treat various diseases, like cancer. Radiopharmaceuticals contain a targeting molecule (e.g. peptide or antibody) and a medical radioisotope. The targeting molecule binds to a tumor specific receptor, according to the lock and key principle. In most cases the targeting molecule can be used for both diagnosis and therapy – only the radioisotope has to be changed. This opens up the way for the application of Theranostics in the field of Precision Oncology. Medical radioisotopes with longer half-lives are applied for treatment. For diagnostic applications radioisotopes with short half-lives are used. Using highly sensitive molecular imaging technologies like PET (Positron Emission Tomography) or SPECT (Single Photon Emission Tomography), images of organs and lesions can be created and diseases can be diagnosed at an early stage. To destroy the tumor minimal cytotoxic doses of ionizing radiation are submitted to the tumor site before decay. A highly precise localization of the toxicity ensures that healthy tissue surrounding the targeted tumor is minimally affected.
About ITM Isotopen Technologien München
ITM Isotopen Technologien München AG is a privately owned biotechnology and radiopharmaceutical group of companies dedicated to the development, production and global supply of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes for use in cancer treatment.
Since its foundation in 2004, ITM and its subsidiaries have established GMP manufacturing and a robust global supply network of a novel, first-in-class medical radioisotopes and generator platform for a new generation of targeted cancer diagnostics and therapies. Furthermore, ITM is developing a proprietary portfolio and growing pipeline of targeted treatments in various stages of clinical development, which address a range of cancers such as neuroendocrine tumors, glioblastoma, osteosarcoma and bone metastases, as well as folate receptor ? positive tumors like lung, ovarian or breast cancer.
ITM’s main objectives, together with its scientific, medical and industrial collaboration partners worldwide, are to significantly improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients while at the same time reducing side effects and improving health economics through a new generation of Targeted Radionuclide Therapies in Precision Oncology.
For more information please visit: www.itm.ag.
ITM Contact
Nicola Scharrer
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Phone: +49 89 3298986-600
Email: Nicola.Scharrer@itm.ag
ITM Isotopen Technologien München AG
Executive Board: Steffen Schuster (CEO), Thomas Dürre (CFO) - Supervisory Board: Udo J Vetter (Chairman) - Registered Office: Garching/Munich
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