BOSTON — AdvanCell said it has entered into a collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with 48Hour Discovery to develop a novel peptide-based Lead-212 radiotherapeutic, initially targeting a gastrointestinal cancer with significant unmet medical need.
The agreement combines 48Hour Discovery’s peptide discovery platform with AdvanCell’s Lead-212 expertise to advance a new targeted alpha therapy program. The companies said the collaboration is designed to rapidly construct and progress a peptide-based radiotherapeutic candidate while supporting the expansion of AdvanCell’s broader oncology pipeline.
AdvanCell’s Lead-212 platform integrates isotope supply, modular manufacturing, and development capabilities for radioligand therapies. The company said the platform is intended to provide a repeatable and scalable path into clinical development and accelerate the advancement of additional targeted alpha therapy programs.
Under the terms of the agreement, AdvanCell obtained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the program.
“This collaboration with the 48Hour Discovery team supports our strategy to build a valuable pipeline, advances a second Lead-212 program into the clinic in 2027, and reinforces our commitment to developing therapies designed to deliver transformative impact for patients,” said Philina Lee, chief executive officer of AdvanCell. She added that recent clinical results from the company’s lead program strengthen confidence in the potential of its alpha technology across cancers with high unmet need.
Rick Finnegan, chief executive officer of 48Hour Discovery, said the partnership highlights how speed and precision in drug discovery can unlock new therapeutic opportunities. “By pairing peptides from our discovery engine with AdvanCell’s development capabilities, we believe we can bring a differentiated therapy to patients who urgently need better options,” he said.
The collaboration expands AdvanCell’s portfolio of targeted alpha therapies, which is led by ADVC001, a Lead-212-based radioligand therapy. Financial terms of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.
