Technetium (^99mTc) etarfolatide is an investigational non-invasive, folate receptor-targeting companion imaging agent that is being developed by

Endocyte Endocyte ( NASDAQ: ECYT) is a biopharmaceutical company established in 1996 and headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana, a resident of the Purdue Research Park. In 2011 the company completed successfully an initial public offering (IPO). , the ...

.''http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/endocytes-dx-spots-ovarian-and-lung-cancer-patients-ripe-merck-drug/2013-03-03'' Etarfolatide consists of a

small molecule Within the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology, a small molecule or micromolecule is a low molecular weight (≤ 1000 daltons) organic compound that may regulate a biological process, with a size on the order of 1 nm. Many drugs ...

targeting the folate receptor and an imaging agent, which is based on

technetium-99m Technetium-99m (99mTc) is a metastable nuclear isomer of technetium-99 (itself an isotope of technetium), symbolized as 99mTc, that is used in tens of millions of medical diagnostic procedures annually, making it the most commonly used medical ra ...

. This companion imaging agent identifies cells expressing the folate receptor, including cancer and inflammatory cells.''http://www.radiologytoday.net/archive/rt0213p12.shtml'' Etarfolatide is currently being investigated together with the corresponding small molecule drug conjugate (SMDC)

vintafolide Vintafolide is an investigational targeted cancer therapeutic currently under development by Endocyte and Merck & Co. It is a small molecule drug conjugate consisting of a small molecule targeting the folate receptor, which is overexpressed on ...

in a Phase 3 study in

platinum-resistant ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different cel ...

and in a Phase 2b study in

non-small cell lung cancer Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is any type of epithelial lung cancer other than small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. As a class, NSCLCs are relatively insensitive to chemotherapy, compared to s ...

. It identifies patients with

metastases Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, then ...

that are positive for the folate receptor and therefore more likely to respond to treatment with

. Other folate receptor targeting SMDCs for the treatment of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

, inflammatory diseases and kidney disease are in preclinical development and will also utilize etarfolatide as companion imaging agent. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is reviewing the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) filings for both

and etarfolatide, for the treatment of patients with folate receptor-positive platinum-resistant

ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different c ...

in combination with pegylated liposomal

doxorubicin Doxorubicin, sold under the brand name Adriamycin among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. This includes breast cancer, bladder cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. It is often used toge ...

(PLD).

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References

Technetium compounds Folates Technetium-99m Radiopharmaceuticals {{Nuclear-med-stub