AstraZeneca Adds RCs for Cancer with Fusion Buy

AstraZeneca is buying Canadian clinical-stage biopharma Fusion Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth up to $2.4 billion. The acquisition of Fusion, a developer of radioconjugates (RCs) for cancer treatment, marks a major step forward in AstraZeneca’s goal to replace traditional cancer treatment regimens like chemotherapy and radiotherapy with more targeted treatments.

RCs have emerged as a promising modality in cancer treatment over recent years. These medicines deliver a radioactive isotope directly to cancer cells through precise targeting using molecules such as antibodies, peptides or small molecules. This approach has many potential advantages compared to traditional radiotherapy including minimizing damage to healthy cells, enabling access to tumors not reachable through external beam radiation and the targeting of cancer cells that have spread from the main tumor to other sites in the body.

The acquisition complements AstraZeneca’s leading oncology portfolio with the addition of the Fusion pipeline of RCs, including FPI-2265, an actinium-225 based RC currently in a Phase II trial as a potential new treatment for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Actinium-225 emits alpha particles and holds the promise of being a next-generation radioisotope in cancer treatment. By delivering a greater radiation dose over a shorter distance, alpha particles such as actinium-225 have the potential for more potent cancer cell killing, and targeted delivery, thereby minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Fusion will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, with operations continuing in Canada and the US. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. (Source: AstraZeneca Website, 19 March, 2024)