Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: APVO) and Niowave Inc. have announced a 50/50 strategic collaboration to develop up to three radiopharmaceutical oncology programs, aiming to leverage each company's strengths in tumor targeting and cancer cell destruction. The partnership comes as radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) garners over $17 billion in investments, according to estimates compiled by Aptevo, highlighting the growing interest in targeted cancer treatments that spare healthy tissue.
Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses a targeting molecule to find cancer cells and a radioactive isotope to destroy them. Aptevo brings its ADAPTIR™ and ADAPTIR-FLEX™ platforms, which are modular protein technologies designed to create precise, multi-specific antibodies that engage the immune system to selectively attack tumors. Niowave contributes radioisotope production, supply, and manufacturing capabilities, including actinium-225, addressing a supply-constrained market.
Under the agreement, Aptevo will contribute assets from its multispecific antibody platforms, including targeting assets directed against Nectin-4, a clinically validated cancer target expressed on the surface of solid tumors. Niowave will provide radioisotopes and related manufacturing capabilities. The companies have designed and are ready to initiate the first stage of the collaboration, which will inform next steps and future development.
Niowave also made an equity investment in Aptevo, representing an initial ownership position of 7.9%, with the potential to build an equity stake of up to 19.99% through warrant exercises. “This collaboration will deepen our radiopharmaceutical development capabilities and better position us to support current partners and the broader industry,” said Mike Zamiara, CEO of Niowave. “Our investment reflects our confidence in the opportunity to combine Aptevo’s targeting capabilities with Niowave’s radioisotope production and supply expertise.”
The collaboration marks Aptevo's entry into radiopharmaceutical therapeutics, expanding beyond its current phase 1b clinical trial of mipletamig for acute myeloid leukemia. For Niowave, it is its first entry into therapeutic development beyond isotope manufacture and supply. “The collaboration between Aptevo and Niowave reflects a strategic expansion of Aptevo’s development plan,” said Jeff Lamothe, President and CEO of Aptevo. “By combining our targeting approach with Niowave’s isotope capabilities, we are well-positioned to explore new ways to address the complexity of many kinds of cancer.”
The radiopharmaceutical therapy market has seen significant interest from Big Pharma, but development has been constrained by limited access to critical isotopes and manufacturing infrastructure. Niowave's established relationships in the radiopharmaceutical ecosystem position it as a reliable isotope supply partner. Together, the companies aim to support radiopharmaceutical development in complex tumor settings, potentially advancing new treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. To learn more about Aptevo, click here.
Featured image from Shutterstock. This content was originally published on Benzinga. Read further disclosures here.
