Fusion cancer treatment to be developed by Clarity

Clarity Pharmaceuticals, a radiopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious diseases, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Belfast-based CRO Fusion Antibodies to further develop a Cathepsin S-specific antibody for the treatment of cancer. Cathepsin S (CatS) is an enzyme which is expressed in a range of cancers — including colorectal, breast, prostate and lung — with raised levels of CatS observed in advanced cancers and patient tissue with secondary tumours.

Since the majority of all cancer deaths occur at this late stage, CatS-targeted therapy has the potential to become a new method for the treatment of such diseases. In preclinical studies of its new antibody drug, Fsn0503, Fusion Antibodies found that the drug showed efficacy in colorectal cancer, breast cancer and glioblastoma.

Under the new licensing agreement, Clarity plans to initiate Phase 0 research and development and to progress the drug through Phase 1/2 clinical trials by leveraging the company’s expertise in biopharmaceutical imaging. Clarity believes it can successfully transition the drug candidate to humans and increase its chance of success by utilising a radiopharmaceutical-based companion diagnostic/therapy approach.

“We believe that the Cathepsin S antibody, combined with Clarity’s proprietary technology, offers a unique opportunity to develop next-generation personalised oncology drugs with greater efficacy,” said Clarity Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Dr Matthew Harris. “We look forward to applying Clarity’s expertise in the field of radiopharmaceutical imaging and therapy to rapidly progress the asset through clinical trials.”