AstraZeneca concludes acquisition of Fusion Pharma
Cambridge: AstraZeneca has announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation radioconjugates (RCs).
This acquisition complements AstraZeneca’s leading oncology portfolio with the addition of the Fusion pipeline of RCs, including their most advanced programme, FPI-2265, a potential new treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and brings new expertise and pioneering R&D, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities in actinium-based RCs to AstraZeneca. It also strengthens AstraZeneca’s presence in Canada, according to the release.
As a result of the acquisition, Fusion has become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, with operations in Canada and the US.
Radioconjugates (RCs) combine the precise targeting of antibodies, small molecules or peptides with potent medical radioisotopes to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells. By seeking out cancer cells, RCs provide a more precise mechanism of cancer cell killing compared with traditional radiation therapy, with the goal of improving efficacy while minimising toxicity on healthy cells. RCs are administered via systemic delivery, which enables their use in tumour types not accessible to external beam radiation and the targeting of cancer cells that have spread from the main tumour to other sites in the body.
Actinium-225 emits alpha particles and holds the promise of being a next-generation radioisotope in cancer treatment. By delivering a greater radiation dose over a shorter distance, alpha particles such as actinium-225 have the potential for more potent cancer cell killing, and targeted delivery, thereby minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
