Lumiphore Inc. Advances Its Site-Directed Radiopharmaceutical Development Program With The Receipt Of An National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II Grant

BERKELEY, Calif., April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Lumimphore Inc., a pharmaceutical leader in bifunctional chelator design, is developing in vivo radio-diagnostic imaging and site-directed radio-therapeutics, using its proprietary bifunctional radionuclide metal-chelation technology; it has received a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Grant entitled "Novel macrocyclic chelating groups for use in targeted radioisotope diagnostic and companion diagnostic/therapeutic applications." The Phase II grant will permit Lumiphore to continue its developmen work on site-directed (targeted) radioisotope payload delivery systems through synthesis and evaluation of novel macrocyclic chelating groups, termed aromatic macrocyclic bifunctional chelators (AMBFCs). These consist of a site-directing molecule, such as an antibody to a tumor receptor, coupled to an AMBFC to deliver a radionuclide to a specific site. As radioimmunodiagnostics, site-directed radioisotopes are deployed as imaging agents in single-photon emmission computer tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). These can be also used as a companion diagnostic in targeted radioimmunotherapy wherein a radionuclide which emits therapeutic-effective ionizing radiation is similarly localized within a specific biological sites by attachment to an accessory molecule that imparts appropiate bio-distrubution and pharmokinetic properties.

The work under the Phase II grant will continue improving chelation stability of metalic radioisotopes for imaging and therapeutics, a compelling need for improved chelating groups for use in radiopharmaceuticals and to utilize radionuclides that are at presently underdeveloped in the clinic.

The Company's AMBFCs that will be developed under this project will potentially contribute to progress in the way cancer is detected and treated. Because the AMBRCs have the potential to be used in cancer imaging and companion diagnostics the physician could benefit from effective feedback loop on the therapeutic progress, remission, and prognosis to help shorten the time of treatment. The AMBFCs also have the potential to deliver radionuclide payloads to kill tumors and their metastases by localized lethal micro-irradiation.

About Lumiphore, Inc.

Based in Berkeley, California, Lumiphore Inc., a privately held company, is a biotechnology leader in the development of proprietary metal lanthanide/actinide chelation technology for use in high-value in vivo radio-imaging and radio-therapeutics which are commercialized through market-specific alliances with corporate partners. Lumphore's new classs of metal lanthanide and actinide chelators are based on technoloy patented by Professor Kenneth N. Raymond and coworkers at the University of California, Berkeley and modified by Lumiphore, and Lumiphore's own patents. Lumiphore's partnerships include: Algeta/Bayer (www.algeta.com) in radiotherapeutics and companion in vivo diagnostic tests; Thermo Fisher Scientific Diagnostics (www.thermofisher.com) for in vitro diagnostics tests; Cis Bioassays (www.htrf.com) in drug discovery research assays; and Biophor Diagnostics Inc. (www.biophor.com) for in vitro diagnostic tests of drugs of abuse. For more information about Lumiphore, log onto www.lumiphore.com. Lumi4® is a registerd mark of Lumiphore, Inc.

For more informaton contact:

Stephen H. Blose, VMD, PhD, Chief Business Officer
Lumiphore, Inc.
(415) 381-4457 | Direct Telephone
(510) 898-1190 | Main Office/FAX
steve@lumiphore.com
www.lumiphore.com

Media Contact:Stephen Blose, Lumiphore, Inc., 510-898-1190, steve@lumiphore.com

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SOURCE Lumiphore, Inc.