Abzena PLC (LON:ABZA) has licensed Aussie firm Telix Pharmaceuticals an antibody specific to the diagnosis and potential treatment of prostate cancer.
Radiopharma specialist Telix will have exclusive and worldwide rights to the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antibodies.
Created using Abzena's composite human antibody technology, the agreement has the potential to generate revenues of US$65mln for the AIM-listed firm including milestones and royalty payments.
Depending on the type of radioactivity Telix attaches to the product, the resulting radio-immunoconjugate can either be used to image where cancerous cells are in the prostate or to kill the cancer.
A radio-immunoconjugate is created by attaching a radioactive isotope to a biological targeting entity such as a monoclonal antibody, a process that allows it to be directed much more accurately to a cancer cell.
Monoclonal antibodies are being heavily researched as potential ways to transport treatments through the body due to their stability, prolonged circulation time in blood and comparative ease of chemical functionalisation.
The two companies have also signed a separate services agreement to develop more products.
Christian Behrenbruch, Telix Pharmaceuticals' chief executive, said: "Radio-immunoconjugates have tremendous potential as one of the most adaptable site specific, precision medicines and, in prostate cancer, PSMA is increasingly recognised as an important target.
"This deal with Abzena significantly reinforces Telix's development focus in prostate cancer.
John Burt, Abzena’s chief executive, added that as well as licensing its proprietary technology to a partner, the concurrent new services agreement had reaffirmed the validity of the combined services and technology licensing business model.