Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ANGIO-IMAGE (ANGIO-tracer for immuno-PET imaging: a stratification and monitoring tool for anti-angiogenesis treatment)
Teaser
Many tumor types (including colorectal cancer, CRC) depend on angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, for their malignant growth. CRC is one of the most common and deadly cancers world-wide. Anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT) is a widely used and...
Summary
Many tumor types (including colorectal cancer, CRC) depend on angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, for their malignant growth. CRC is one of the most common and deadly cancers world-wide. Anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT) is a widely used and highly promising anti-cancer approach that is, however, challenged by low response rates, inadequate efficacy and resistance. Currently, there is no tool available to select the patients most likely to benefit from AAT or to monitor response to therapy.
In ANGIO-IMAGE, the Dutch university spin-off company AngioTarget has assessed the technological, practical and economic viability of ANGIO-tracer to stratify CRC patients prior to AAT. Proper ANGIO-tracer implementation can save 45,000 stage II/III CRC patients from undertreatment and 60,000 stage IV patients from overtreatment in Europe each year. This will ensure optimal treatment for responders, while preventing ineffective administration of costly drugs to non-responders. A feasibility study has re-defined and optimised the commercial, IP and development strategies. The results warrant the development of ANGIO-tracer for CRC patients.
Work performed
The main result achieved is the overall outcome of the feasibility study, judging the foreseen developments for the ANGIO-tracer as both technically and economically feasible. Animal studies have been performed to determine the ability of ANGIO-tracer to specifically detect solid tumors, using PET-imaging. The results show that the technical feasibility is outstanding and warrant further, clinical, investigations.
The business strategy has been adjusted. Primary focus is now on developing the ANGIO-tracer tool for CRC patient stratification prior to a specific AAT treatment (Avastin). Portfolio expansion is planned for after market entry as a stratification tool. This lowers both costs and risks involved with clinical development, and enables AngioTarget to achieve revenues earlier. This ensures the company’s growth and independence – limiting the need for dilutive funds.
Development of ANGIO-tracer as stratification tool to market entry in 2020 is projected to cost almost 5M€. AngioTarget is expected to gradually grow to a company of 20-40 FTE. The product will be sold to cancer clinics with PET-imaging facilities. Market penetration will be 10% by 2025, leading to a swift generation of significant revenues (500-700M€ by 2025). Based on the ANGIO-IMAGE results, AngioTarget has decided to take the developments forward.
Final results
Anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT) shows a clear clinical response in many cancer patients, but only a fraction (20-35%) of the patients respond to AAT in terms of prolongation of survival. This means that 65-80% of patients is over-treated, leading to loss of time, money, and quality of life. Presently, there is no possibility to select the responders prior to treatment. ANGIO-tracer will be the first tool that enables pre-selection of patients that are likely to benefit from AAT, allowing non-responders to focus on alternative treatment options. Implementation of ANGIO-tracer as a stratification tool for CRC patients will have a huge impact on society by providing each individual CRC patient with the optimal care (i.e. AAT (20-35% of patients) or alternative approaches). The economic benefits of this approach is also enormous. A significant costs saving potential for the healthcare ‘payers’ is shown; exponentially growing from 150 million in 2020 (ANGIO-tracer market entry) to 3.5 billion in 2025. With a roll-out of ANGIO-tracer in additional solid cancer markets of similar size (e.g. lung-, prostate- and breast cancer), the cost savings will increase accordingly.