With roots in UBC research, Alpha-9 Theranostics is developing radiation therapies for cancer that target tumors while avoiding healthy tissue.
Alpha-9 Theranostics, a spin-off UBC company founded by three university researchers, has raised $75 million to develop next-generation radiopharmaceuticals that promise to significantly improve the treatment of people with cancer.
Based on more than a decade of groundbreaking research at UBC and BC Cancer, the cancer drugs act as a targeting device—seeking out tumors to deliver targeted radiation therapy while having minimal impact on nearby healthy tissue. This precise targeting leads to drugs that may be more effective and have fewer side effects for patients than traditional radiation therapies.
“We founded this company to turn the research we were doing at UBC and BC Cancer into treatments that will help patients thrive and ultimately save lives,” said Dr. François Benard, one of the company’s co-founders and Professor of Radiology in the UBC Faculty of Medicine and Senior Executive Director of the British Columbia Cancer Research Institute. “Seeing these treatments move into clinical trials after more than a decade of basic and translational research is inspiring and the result of a tremendous collaborative effort. This new funding will further accelerate development, bringing new cancer treatments to patients faster.”
Alpha-9’s radiopharmaceuticals are intended for the treatment of a number of solid and hematological cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. According to Dr. David Hirsch, CEO of Alpha-9, the $75 million in Series B funding will allow the company to bring its first five treatments into clinical trials with patients over the next two years.
“Thanks to cutting-edge research at UBC, these radiotherapies have tremendous potential to address a wide range of cancers,” says Dr. Hirsch. “In the coming years, we plan to advance multiple treatments into first-in-human clinical trials, harnessing the potential of radiopharmaceuticals to deliver more effective treatments for people living with cancer.”
From UBC labs to successful startup
Alpha-9 was founded in 2019 by Dr. Bénard along with UBC professors Drs. Kuo-Xian Lin and David Perrin. But a decade earlier, the trio began working together.
Dr. Perrin, a professor of chemistry at UBC, has invented a new method to easily label molecules with fluorine-18, a radioisotope widely used for cancer imaging. He and Dr. Bénard began researching how to use this method to label peptides—small molecules that seek out and attach to unique proteins that exist on the surface of tumors—to improve cancer diagnostics.
At the same time, Dr. Lin, a UBC professor of radiology and senior scientist at BC Cancer, is developing new cancer-targeting peptides and working with Dr. Benard to label them with therapeutic radioisotopes. Instead of emitting the gamma rays used for imaging, these radioisotopes emit particles called alpha and beta particles that destroy cancer cells.
According to Dr. Lin, they each brought unique expertise from their respective disciplines that helped transform the world of cancer diagnosis and therapy.
“Our work was very complementary and we realized there was huge potential to apply it in both the diagnostic and therapeutic spaces. We knew we would need both components because if we wanted to deliver a therapy, we also needed a diagnostic companion to identify patients who would benefit from the therapy,” says Dr. Lin.
Using a team science approach, the researchers began developing peptides that target cancer cells and combined them with diagnostic radioisotopes to localize the cancer and plan treatment, and with therapeutic radioisotopes to seek out and eliminate cancer cells.
“We founded this company to turn the research we were doing at UBC and BC Cancer into treatments that will help patients thrive and ultimately save lives.”
— Dr. Francois Benard, Professor of Radiology
The researchers filed a number of patents for the technology they developed and worked with UBC’s Office of University-Industry Liaison and the Office of Technology Development at BC Cancer to license the technology and eventually form Alpha-9. Dr. Benard is quick to attribute the success to their multidisciplinary teams, saying many of the trainee researchers continue to play a central role in the company today.
“UBC interns and students were instrumental in the initial research, and several have now taken on leadership roles within the company to guide the science,” says Dr. Benard. “This is one of the many benefits of doing business in British Columbia. There are many highly skilled research interns coming out of UBC, creating a rich environment for companies to thrive in Vancouver.”
Dr. Julie Russo was one of those interns, working as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Benard’s lab from 2015 to 2019. She is now Alpha-9’s Associate Director of Translational Biology.
“During my postdoctoral training at UBC with Dr. Bénard, I was trained in preclinical drug screening, target selection, as well as radiopharmaceutical development strategies. I also had the opportunity to hone my mentoring and leadership skills by teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. This exceptional training period allowed me to take on a leadership role at Alpha-9.”
BC Leader in Cancer Research
Three years after its founding, Alpha-9 has grown to over 15 employees. The company has a research and development base located in Vancouver, as well as offices in Boston.
Alpha-9 plans to use the new round of investor funding to continue expanding next year, increasing its workforce to 45 employees by the end of 2023. Construction is also underway on a new research facility in the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver, which will house the company’s chemistry, biology, translational research and radiochemistry teams, as well as support product formulation.
According to Dr. Benard, this is a testament to British Columbia’s established leadership in cancer research.
“Vancouver is home to vast expertise in radiopharmaceutical development and nuclear medicine, making it an ideal location for these research laboratories,” says Dr. Benard. “There is a critical mass of expertise driving biomedical innovation, in part because of the wealth of talent and research coming from UBC and the broader ecosystem that includes world-leading organizations like BC Cancer and TRIUMF, as well as a range of established and emerging biotech companies .”
For Dr. Dermot Kelleher, dean of UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and vice-president, health, Alpha-9 is another example of how UBC researchers are driving innovation to address today’s most pressing health challenges.
“UBC researchers are accelerating the discovery and development of new treatments for a range of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes,” says Dr. Kelleher. “Investors and companies are noticing the talent and expertise that exists here and its proximity to the university. They are increasingly choosing BC as a place to invest and grow their businesses, which in turn creates jobs and brings new treatments to BC residents sooner.”
Improving patient outcomes
For Dr. Benard, what’s most exciting about Alpha-9’s rapid growth is the potential for impact on patients.
“We’re not talking about 10 or 20 years down the road. There are real short-term goals to open multiple clinical trials with patients in the coming years.”
“Thanks to cutting-edge research at UBC, these radiotherapies have tremendous potential to address a wide range of cancers.”
— Dr. David Hirsch CEO, Alpha-9
Dr. Bénard says Alpha-9’s new radiopharmaceuticals will add an additional treatment option that is different but complementary to existing approaches. And because the treatments are highly targeted and designed to avoid healthy tissue, patients undergoing treatment may see fewer side effects and enjoy a better quality of life.
“It’s all about the patients. Although there have been leaps and bounds in cancer treatment options in recent decades, it remains the leading cause of death in Canada. We have a real opportunity to change this and improve outcomes for people living with cancer.
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Posted: January 26, 2023
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