Lantheus invests $35M in theranostic pair to expand pipeline

Lantheus Holdings acquired global rights to Life Molecular Imaging’s RM2 product, targeting the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), and with it, an RM2 theranostic pair.

Lantheus said the acquisition of RM2 and the theranostic pair lutetium-177 (Lu-177) DOTA-RM2 and gallium-68 (Ga-68) DOTA-RM2 strengthens the company's presence in prostate cancer and expands its pipeline to include breast and other cancers.

RM2 was discovered at the Universities Bern and Basel; development was originally performed by Bayer Pharma AG. RM2 was subsequently licensed to Life Molecular, Lantheus noted.

The deal involves an upfront payment of $35 million and potential regulatory milestone payments plus royalties, Lantheus said, adding that it intends to begin a phase I/IIa study with Lu-177-DOTA-RM2 in prostate cancer patients in 2025. Ga-68-DOTA-RM2 will be used as a companion diagnostic. Life Molecular, a subsidiary of Life Healthcare Group, will complete the phase I/IIa dose escalation study in collaboration with Lantheus.