A Radiochemical Challenge

Parenterally administered (injected or infused) radioactivity has tremendous potential to aid the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of severe disease. The general approach is to attach radioactive atoms to biological molecules that can "home in" on targeted cells while sparing healthy organs. Typically, each molecule carries less than one radioactive atom on average. In the context of imaging, the emitted radiation can be detected to visualize the disease site. In a therapeutic setting, the emitted radiation can destroy the targeted tissue.

The past decade has seen a renaissance in targeting technology, and there is now a panoply of antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, and chemical compounds that can target various diseases with high specificity. Yet techniques for labeling these molecules with radioactivity have evolved very little. Consequently, even the best targeting molecules cannot deliver enough radioactivity to disease sites such as tumors or plaques to have broad clinical utility.

HotDot™ Radiolabel

Solixia's proprietary HotDot™ technology is a platform solution to the radiolabeling problem. A HotDot™ is a compact cluster of 10+ radioactive atoms that can be easily conjugated with most targeting molecules. It is essentially a "super-radiolabel" that will permit labeling with log-fold greater specific activity (radioactivity per unit mass) than is presently achievable. Yet it is also small enough to minimally perturb the targeting molecule's intrinsic blood clearance, biodistribution, and tissue penetration properties.

We believe that a patient dose fomulated with a HotDot™ radiolabel will result in superior target-to-background radioactivity ratios than can be attained with other labeling methods. This will result in improved safety, better imaging sensitivity, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Solixia is presently evaluating rhenium-188 and technetium-99m HotDot™ in preclinical studies for solid tumor therapy and imaging.

Technology Highlights

Intellectual Property

Compositions, methods of preparation, and uses of HotDot™ are protected by pending and issued patents. Solixia owns an exclusive license to commercialize this technology. We are continuing to build a robust intellectual property portfolio through further in-licensing and internal R&D.