Shuttle Pharma and UCSF Unite for Groundbreaking Prostate Cancer Theranostics

Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SHPH), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on enhancing cancer treatment outcomes with radiation therapy, has announced a sponsored research agreement with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This partnership will propel the preclinical development of Shuttle Diagnostics, Inc.’s prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand, a novel theranostic molecule for prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Innovative PSMA Ligand Development

Theranostic molecules like Shuttle Pharma’s PSMA-B offer dual utility in diagnosing and treating cancers. PSMA is a crucial target in prostate cancer due to its high expression on cancer cells. Shuttle Pharma’s CEO, Dr. Anatoly Dritschilo, highlighted that their novel PSMA-B ligand, containing boron, has shown nanomolar binding affinity to PSMA. The preclinical evaluations aim to explore its potential as:

• A sensitizer for proton radiation therapy.
• A PET diagnostic reagent.
• A targeted therapeutic for prostate cancer.

The collaboration with UCSF, led by Dr. Robert Flavell, will further investigate:

1. Radiosynthetic methods for producing [18F]FPA-ACUPA probes.
2. Cellular binding properties in prostate cancer cell lines.
3. The diagnostic efficacy of the probe across diverse prostate cancer phenotypes.

Strategic Importance of PSMA Ligands

The development of PSMA ligands, particularly for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), represents a promising therapeutic frontier. With their specificity for prostate cancer cells, PSMA ligands can enable precise imaging and targeted delivery of radiopharmaceuticals. Shuttle Pharma holds an exclusive license for PSMA-B intellectual property and has filed a corresponding patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Market Opportunity

The global PSMA PET imaging market, valued at $1.5 billion in 2022, is projected to grow to $2.0 billion by 2030. Additionally, targeted treatments like Pluvicto®, designed for PSMA-positive metastatic prostate cancer, are anticipated to capture a $2 billion market. Shuttle Pharma’s PSMA-B ligand could contribute significantly to this expanding market by offering a next-generation solution for prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Future Prospects

Dr. Dritschilo emphasized the importance of the UCSF collaboration, noting its potential to establish PSMA-B as a groundbreaking theranostic agent. With its dual capabilities in diagnostic imaging and therapy, the PSMA-B ligand could revolutionize the management of prostate cancer and address unmet clinical needs in the field.