Summary:

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for a new series of photo-absorbing silicon-phthalocyanine derivatives (IR702HKT) for use in near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) in the treatment of cancer.

Description of Technology:

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a method of treating cancers that utilizes an antibody-photoabsorber conjugate (APC), which is activated by near-infrared light to kill cells. The antibody binds to the appropriate cell surface antigen and a photo-activatable compound induces lethal damage to the cell membrane after NIR-light exposure. NIR-light exposure induces highly selective, necrotic cancer cell death within minutes without damage to adjoining cells.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Kansai Medical University (KMU) have developed the current invention which is a new series of photo-absorbing silicon-phthalocyanine derivatives (IR702HKT) as alternatives to the current IRDye700DX. This series of IR702HKTs have modified linkers that improve the efficacy of cellular cytotoxicity of IR702HKT bound to target cancer cells. Additionally, appropriate modifications improved in vivo stability of these new APCs and required less energetic therapeutic light exposure, which should improve clinical therapeutic efficacy and safety of NIR-PIT.

The inventors are open to co-development partners and/or licensing opportunities.

Potential Commercial Applications:

• Cancer treatment
• Cancer diagnosis
• Cancer imaging
• Treatment against viral, fungus, parasite, or bacterial infection
• Age-related macular degeneration and lymphangioma, via depletion of abnormal vessels
• Improved metabolic and physical function, via targeting of senile senescent cells

Competitive Advantages:

• Improved in vivo stability
• Improved cytotoxicity against APC-bound target cells by the same light exposure
• Reduced therapeutic light exposure clinical therapeutic efficacy and safety, compared to current photo-absorbing silicon-phthalocyanine derivatives
• Improved synthesis yields