Molecular Targeting Technologies, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company, has been awarded a $3.17 million, five-year National Cancer Institute grant to advance the development of Lu-177-EBRGD, an investigational radiopharmaceutical targeting integrin αvβ3, for non-small cell lung cancer. The award, under NIH grant R01CA299133, will support an integrated translational program encompassing preclinical research, drug product manufacturing, regulatory preparation, and planned clinical studies.
Lu-177-EBRGD is designed to target integrin αvβ3, a cell-surface receptor associated with tumor biology and angiogenesis. The program builds on MTTI’s EvaThera pharmacokinetic engineering platform, which incorporates Evans Blue-based reversible albumin binding into targeted molecules to modify their circulation and tissue distribution. NCI-funded research will characterize the drug candidate’s tumor-targeting properties, pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, therapeutic activity, and safety-related characteristics.
The five-year award will support preclinical evaluation of tumor targeting and toxicity, drug product manufacturing under cGMP requirements, regulatory preparation toward a potential Investigational New Drug application, and planning for clinical studies in patients with metastatic NSCLC following first-line systemic therapy. Published preclinical studies of Evans Blue-modified RGD radiopharmaceutical, including studies using NSCLC patient-derived xenograft models, have reported enhanced tumor accumulation and retention compared with non-albumin-binding comparators.
MTTI is advancing EvaThera across multiple oncology programs, including its lead clinical program Lu-177-EBTATE, which targets somatostatin receptor 2 for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Additional planned projects include EB-FAPI and EB-GRPR.
KEY QUOTES:
“Receiving this five-year, $3.17 million NCI award is a significant milestone for MTTI and our EvaThera platform. This support will advance Lu-177-EBRGD toward clinical evaluation and extend our platform into integrin αvβ3-targeted radiopharmaceutical development. Building on our lead EBTATE program, this initiative broadens our oncology research and strengthens our efforts to explore new treatment approaches for patients with NSCLC.”
Dr. Chris Pak, Chairman and CEO, MTTI
“NSCLC remains a significant unmet medical need, as many patients are diagnosed only after the disease has spread beyond the lung. For patients with distant-stage NSCLC in the United States, the five-year relative survival rate is approximately 12%, underscoring the urgent need for new, effective, and well-tolerated treatment options. With support from this NCI-funded program, we aim to advance the scientific and development data needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Lu-177-EBRGD and inform its progression toward clinical evaluation for patients with NSCLC.”
Dr. Norman LaFrance, Chief Strategy Officer, MTTI
