Curasight hires Premier Research for Phase I glioblastoma study

Danish biotech Curasight A/S has hired Premier Research to run a Phase I study of its candidate radionuclide-based brain cancer treatment.

The Copenhagen firm signed a master service agreement and work order last week, with Curasight CEO Ulrich Krasilnikoff citing the North Carolina CRO’s experience in both glioblastoma-related research and radiotherapy as key.

“We are very pleased to be working with Premier Research, a globally represented Clinical Research Organization and a company with proven experience in the very specialized field of conducting international diagnostic and therapeutic trials with radiopharmaceutical agents,” he said.

“We believe Premier Research is the optimal partner to secure the efficient and effective execution of this trial, which is an important element of our therapeutic platform uTREAT in brain cancer.”

Targeted radiotherapy

The uTREAT platform is a form of radiotherapy that, unlike traditional radiotherapies, acts internally in a targeted way by binding specific receptors on the surface of cancer cells. The system combines a diagnostic platform and a targeted treatment technology, which work in concert to detect and then treat tumors.

The aim of the study is to investigate the uTREAT ligand as a treatment option for cancer patients diagnosed with glioblastoma.

Commenting on the deal, Premier Research CEO John Ratliff said, “We are delighted to partner with Curasight — a leader in the field of theranostics — we look forward to working with their innovative radiopharmaceutical technology.

“We are confident we can deliver a high level of operational excellence to ensure the optimal execution of this important Phase I trial,” he added.

News of the contract comes a little over a year after the EMA approved a clinical trial application to evaluate uTRACE in a Phase II trial as a noninvasive alternative or supplement to traditional biopsies in prostate cancer patients in active surveillance.

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