Threshold Pharmaceuticals has signed a global agreement with Siemens Healthcare to purchase its investigational radiolabeled hypoxia positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, [18F]HX4 [flortanidazole (18F)].
The US-based biotechnology company will initially develop Siemens Healthcare Molecular Imaging-developed [18F]HX4 as a potential companion diagnostic for its hypoxia-targeted therapeutics.
Threshold Pharmaceuticals chief executive officer Barry Selick said the acquisition of [18F]HX4 strengthens the company's position in the field of hypoxia-targeted therapies for cancer.
As part of the agreement, Siemens will transfer ownership and existing preclinical, clinical and manufacturing data related to [18F]HX4 to Threshold, while Threshold will develop and commercialize [18F]HX4.
Siemens Healthcare Molecular Imaging chief executive officer Britta Fuenfstueck said, "The further development of our hypoxia-targeted PET tracer with Threshold's hypoxia-targeted therapeutics carries potential to improve patient care."
