SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Long-term objective of this project is increased availability of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to patients across different disease areas. The approach focuses on eliminating complexity and quality risks associated with production of radioactive contrast agents, PET tracers relied upon in neurology and oncology. The specific solution developed in this project is a platform that will afterwards deliver the same benefits in production of PET tracers used in an expanded variety of disease areas.PET Tracers rely on radionuclides with inherently short half-lives such as F-18 (110 min), Ga-68 (68 min), that have to be produced multiple times a day from a cyclotron or generator. Quality Control (QC) of PET tracers is by far the most labor-, skill- and risk-intensive part of the cGMP production process. It requires assessment of 10-14 different parameters for the PET tracer to be released for patient use. The complex current state of PET tracer QC presents a barrier to the expansion of PET imaging, particularly to smaller hospitals and clinics in the rural US, often limits the number of PET tracers that may be produced in one facility, and ultimately limits the availability of PET imaging to patients.The innovation is in the disposable kit that enables multiple tests from a single sample on a single platform composed of a microplate reader and automated pipettor. Tracer-QC has been successfully benchmarked with FDG, the most common PET tracer used in multiple applications. It has delivered the desired simplification, efficiency and traceability of data. Four PET tracers chosen for this project are: [F- 18]Florbetaben – FDA approved PET tracer for amyloid imaging in Alzheimer’s Disease diagnostics, [F- 18]Flortaucipir, – a tau protein marker with highest predictive potential for Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases such as TBI/CTE, [F-18]FMISO – leading marker for detection and management of sarcomas, [Ga-68]DOTATATE – FDA-approved PET tracer for neuroendocrine tumors. The impacts of this work will be: (1) improved availability of these 4 PET tracers to patients, (2) streamlined procedures for transition of future tracers onto Tracer-QC platform, and (3) freed up capacity in PET production facilities to add more PET tracers to their offerings to the imaging centers.Each Phase I Specific Aim focuses on one of 2 riskiest new tests. Milestone is experimental demonstration of the desired limit of detection. Specific Aim 1: Acetone (LOD = 2000 ppm). Specific Aim 2: DMSO (LOD = 2000 ppm). Phase II Specific Aims 1-4: Clinical Production of new tracer using Tracer-QC for quality control. 1 ([F-18]Florbetaben, 2 ([F-18]Flortaucipir, 3 ([F-18]FMISO), 4 ([Ga- 68]DOTATATE): Milestones are (a) Tracer-QC method validated for each PET tracer QC and (b) IND/NDA amendment filed. The project will yield a fully-automated QC solution that has been validated, de-risked and is positioned for easy implementation with DMF cross-reference for 4 new tracers.The output of the project is a platform technology expected to simplify production not only for the 4 demonstrated neurology and oncology PET tracers but for many others that enable Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging across multiple disease areas. Besides simplification this innovation will deliver improvements in regulatory compliance, both of which are expected to lead to much higher throughput in PET tracer production facilities, which translates into increased availability of a diverse range of PET imaging to multiple groups of patients. It is also expected to be an important driver in development of new PET tracers for imaging needs that have not been addressed yet.
