AdvanCell unveiled a collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with 48Hour Discovery that grants AdvanCell worldwide rights to develop a peptide-based Lead-212 radiotherapeutic program, initially aimed at an undisclosed gastrointestinal cancer. The lead candidate uses the alpha-emitting radionuclide lead-212 (²¹²Pb) attached to a tumor-targeting peptide, and the agreement gives AdvanCell global development and commercialization control.

The deal specifics were not disclosed, beyond stating that AdvanCell secured exclusive worldwide rights. The statement also did not identify the molecular target, receptor, or biomarker that the peptide is designed to bind, limiting near-term visibility into positioning versus established gastrointestinal oncology segments.

Deal context

For AdvanCell, the agreement expands a targeted alpha therapy pipeline built around its lead-212 platform, including in-house isotope supply and modular manufacturing, and adds a second discovery-to-development pathway alongside its clinical-stage assets. The company’s most advanced program, ADVC001, is in a Phase I/II trial in prostate cancer (TheraPb; NCT05720130).

Based in Canada’s Edmonton, Alberta, 48Hour Discovery was established in 2017 by University of Alberta Professor Dr. Ratmir Derda, and uses proprietary screening technologies to rapidly identify high-affinity peptide ligands for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. In 2023, the University of Alberta assigned 48Hour Discovery a comprehensive portfolio of issued and pending patents relating to peptide libraries and related compositions of matter, including radiopharmaceutical constructs. The firm previously partnered with radiopharmaceutical developers such as Orano Med to support peptide receptor radionuclide therapy programs.

Lead-212 targeted alpha therapies aim to deliver high–linear energy transfer radiation over very short path lengths, potentially increasing tumor cell kill while limiting exposure to surrounding tissue, relevant in solid tumors where dose-limiting toxicity constrains systemic therapies.

Within radioligand therapy, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy is already established in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) with Lutathera, a lutetium-177 peptide radioligand from Novartis, approved for somatostatin receptor–positive GEP-NETs. A late-stage competitive radioligand in the same GEP-NET setting is 177Lu-edotreotide from ITM Isotope Technologies Munich, which the US FDA accepted for review with a disclosed PDUFA goal date.