NEW YORK – GE Healthcare and Sofie Biosciences have inked a licensing deal for Sofie's fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted radiopharmaceuticals, 68Ga-FAPI-46 and 18F-FAPI-74.
In the deal announced Wednesday, Chalfont St. Giles, England-based GE Healthcare gained exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the gallium 68-labeled diagnostic PET imaging agent, 68Ga-FAPI-46. As for the fluorine 18-labeled PET imaging agent, 18F-FAPI-74, GE Healthcare will hold all rights outside the US, while Sofie will continue to develop and commercialize it inside the US.
Dulles, Virginia-based Sofie and GE Healthcare said they will create a joint steering committee to guide the development and commercialization processes.
In a Phase II clinical trial, Sofie has been evaluating 68Ga-FAPI-46 as a diagnostic agent to detect FAP-expressing tumors in pancreatic cancer patients. In another Phase II trial, the firm has been assessing 18F-FAPI-74 as a diagnostic agent to identify FAP-expressing liver, bile duct, gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.
GE Healthcare said in a statement that it aims to advance the FAP imaging agents toward regulatory submissions and commercialization. The companies didn't disclose the financial arrangements of the deal.