Cellvion Secures Funding to Advance Novel Prostate Cancer Treatment
Table of Contents
- 1. Cellvion Secures Funding to Advance Novel Prostate Cancer Treatment
- 2. What are the key advantages of using alpha-emitting radionuclides like Actinium-225 compared to traditional radiation therapy in terms of targeting cancer cells and minimizing damage to healthy tissue?
- 3. Cellvion’s ‘225Ac-RPT’ for Prostate Cancer: A KDDF Project Initiative
- 4. Understanding Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- 5. What is ‘225Ac-RPT’?
- 6. KDDF Project Initiative: Why This Matters
- 7. The science Behind Alpha Particle Therapy
- 8. Clinical Development & Potential Applications
- 9. Benefits of Targeted Radionuclide Therapy with ‘225Ac-RPT’
- 10. Practical Considerations & Patient Eligibility
Seoul, South korea – December 4, 2025 – Cellvion has been selected for a key national project aimed at accelerating the development of new drugs, specifically for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The company announced today it will receive two years of funding from the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) to support non-clinical research and the pursuit of Investigational New Drug (IND) approval.
The project focuses on developing a radiopharmaceutical treatment utilizing the alpha-nuclide actinium-225 (Ac-225) to target mCRPC. Cellvion will lead the research and development efforts, slated to run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2027.
This funding arrives as Cellvion prepares for conditional approval in Korea for ‘177Lu-pocuvotide’, a PSMA radiopharmaceutical treatment (RPT) currently in Phase 2 trials.The company anticipates a synergistic effect by potentially combining this beta-emitting therapy with the new Ac-225 alpha therapy, maximizing treatment efficacy for prostate cancer patients.
“this selection for the National New Drug Development Project will allow us to expedite the non-clinical development of our Ac-225 treatment, a next-generation flagship pipeline for Cellvion,” stated Kim Kwon, CEO of Cellvion.”Given the significant unmet medical need in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, we are committed to successfully completing this research and delivering innovative treatments to patients as quickly as possible.”
the National New Drug Development Project is a comprehensive national R&D initiative designed to bolster the Korean pharmaceutical and bio industry’s global competitiveness. It supports the entire drug development lifecycle, aiming to foster a robust domestic R&D ecosystem and drive commercialization success.
What are the key advantages of using alpha-emitting radionuclides like Actinium-225 compared to traditional radiation therapy in terms of targeting cancer cells and minimizing damage to healthy tissue?
Cellvion’s ‘225Ac-RPT’ for Prostate Cancer: A KDDF Project Initiative
Understanding Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer remains a meaningful health concern globally, driving ongoing research into more effective and targeted treatments. Traditional therapies like surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy have limitations, prompting exploration of innovative approaches. Targeted Radionuclide Therapy (TRT) is emerging as a promising avenue, and Cellvion’s ‘225Ac-RPT’ has recently been selected as a key project initiative by the Kidney and Prostate Cancer Drug Development (KDDF). This signifies a major step forward in personalized medicine for advanced prostate cancer.
What is ‘225Ac-RPT’?
‘225Ac-RPT’ represents a novel approach to TRT.It utilizes the radioactive isotope Actinium-225 (²²⁵Ac) attached to a Prostate-specific Membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting molecule.
* PSMA: A protein highly expressed on the surface of most prostate cancer cells, making it an ideal target for therapy.
* Actinium-225: An alpha-emitting radionuclide. Alpha particles deliver a high dose of radiation over a very short range, maximizing damage to cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue.
* Radioligand Therapy: The overall process of delivering radiation directly to cancer cells using a targeting molecule.
Essentially, ‘225Ac-RPT’ acts like a guided missile, seeking out and destroying prostate cancer cells with precision. This differs substantially from systemic therapies like chemotherapy, which affect both cancerous and healthy cells.
KDDF Project Initiative: Why This Matters
The KDDF’s selection of ‘225Ac-RPT’ as a project initiative is crucial for several reasons:
- Funding & Resources: KDDF support provides Cellvion with vital funding and resources to accelerate the development and clinical testing of ‘225Ac-RPT’.
- Validation: Selection by a respected association like KDDF validates the potential of this therapy and attracts further investment.
- Collaboration: KDDF frequently enough fosters collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies, streamlining the path to approval.
- Focus on Advanced Disease: The KDDF’s focus is on addressing unmet needs in kidney and prostate cancer, particularly in advanced stages where treatment options are limited.
The science Behind Alpha Particle Therapy
Alpha particle therapy, the core of ‘225Ac-RPT’, offers distinct advantages over traditional beta-emitting radiotherapies:
* High Linear Energy Transfer (LET): Alpha particles deposit a large amount of energy over a short distance, causing significant DNA damage.
* Short Range: The limited range of alpha particles minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues.
* Bypass of DNA Repair Mechanisms: The intense energy deposition can overwhelm cancer cell DNA repair mechanisms, leading to cell death.
This makes alpha particle therapy particularly effective against cancers that are resistant to conventional radiation. Research in Journal of nuclear Medicine consistently highlights the benefits of alpha-emitting radionuclides in targeted cancer therapies.
Clinical Development & Potential Applications
currently, ‘225Ac-RPT’ is undergoing preclinical and early-phase clinical trials. The initial focus is on patients with:
* Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC): Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to hormone therapy.
* PSMA-Positive Disease: Patients whose tumors express high levels of PSMA are most likely to benefit.
* Limited Treatment Options: Patients who have exhausted other standard therapies.
Future research may explore the use of ‘225Ac-RPT’ in earlier stages of prostate cancer, potentially as a neoadjuvant therapy (before surgery or radiation) or as a consolidation therapy (after initial treatment).
Benefits of Targeted Radionuclide Therapy with ‘225Ac-RPT’
Compared to existing prostate cancer treatments, ‘225Ac-RPT’ offers several potential benefits:
* Improved Targeting: PSMA targeting minimizes off-target effects.
* Enhanced Efficacy: Alpha particle therapy can overcome resistance to conventional radiation.
* Reduced Toxicity: Localized radiation delivery reduces damage to healthy tissues.
* Personalized treatment: PSMA expression levels can definately help identify patients most likely to respond.
* Potential for Combination Therapy: ‘225Ac-RPT’ may be combined with other therapies to enhance treatment outcomes.
Practical Considerations & Patient Eligibility
While promising, ‘225Ac-RPT’ is not yet widely available. Patient eligibility for clinical trials typically involves:
* Confirmed Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Histological confirmation of prostate cancer.
* PSMA PET/CT Scan: To assess PSMA expression levels.
* Adequate Organ Function: Patients must have sufficient kidney, liver, and bone marrow function to tolerate the therapy.
* Performance Status: Patients must be in reasonably good overall health.
Patients interested in learning more about clinical trials involving ‘225Ac-RPT’ should discuss their options with their oncologist. Resources like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and ClinicalTrials.gov provide details
