Precursors for cancer diagnosis

Skolkovo resident began to diagnose a rare type of cancer

Vitaly Shustikov

The resident of "Skolkovo" is the company "Pharm-Synthesis.Lab" has developed domestic peptide precursors – chemicals that serve to detect a rare type of cancer – neuroendocrine tumor (NEO) and prostate cancer.

The product "Pharm-Synthesis.Lab", which is cheaper and better than foreign analogues, is already being delivered to one of the hospitals in St. Petersburg. 

Neuroendocrine tumors are difficult to diagnose, as they grow slowly and are located mainly in the stomach and intestines. Symptoms in patients with this type of cancer are similar to diseases such as gastritis and colitis, so in this case, a high-quality diagnosis is very important. Precursors, together with a positron emission tomograph (PET), make it possible to find NEO in a patient with a high probability. Labeled with the radioactive isotope Gallium-68, they are injected intravenously to the patient, who is then scanned by PET. Radioactive tags are localized where the tumor is located, and the doctor can determine its location by the radiation of the indicators. 

Kirill Kayem, Vice President, Executive Director of the Biomedical Technologies Cluster of the Skolkovo Foundation:
"The product of the company "Pharm-Synthesis.Lab" is in the highly promising field of development of radiopharmaceutical diagnostic drugs. Russian scientists are traditionally strong in this field. The support of the state, including the Skolkovo Foundation, is important for creating advanced technological foundations in Russian medicine. The Skolkovo Technopark is becoming a notable hub combining innovative biotechnological projects in advanced promising areas." 

Anna Nazarenko, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pharm-Sintez JSC: 
"A lot of work has been done, which could not have been done without the participation of the Skolkovo Foundation and without the capabilities of the Skolkovo Technopark, on the basis of which research was conducted. Now we are investing in the future. This is a real import substitution, in which we invest a significant part of the budget. But this is not enough. It is not enough just to create a drug, government policy and support are needed. A lot depends on the availability of specialists in the field of nuclear medicine and equipping clinics with serious technological equipment."

The company has signed a contract for the supply of a batch of precursors for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer to the Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies in St. Petersburg. The number of indicators is enough to examine about 200 people. The chemical was also taken for research at the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center and the P.A. Herzen Moscow Oncological Research Institute. 

In the next five years, the Skolkovo resident intends to occupy 10% of the international market of precursors for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. To do this, Pharm-Sintez JSC plans to invest up to 20% of its annual revenue in research and development over two years. Negotiations are also underway with potential customers of indicators in India, Germany and Hungary.

Lev Voloznev, General Director of Pharm-Sintez LLC.Lab»:
"Currently, the German company ABX is the leader in the global market of tools for the detection of various malignant, including neuroendocrine tumors. Confirmation of NEO by the precursors of this company will cost about 4-6 thousand euros, excluding flights and accommodation in a European clinic, since it is not easy to find such an indicator in Russian hospitals. The product "Pharm-Synthesis.Lab" makes available rare types of diagnostics in Russia – now the cost of the entire diagnostic procedure is about 60 thousand rubles. At the same time, the full cycle of development, synthesis and production is carried out in Russia. We hope for the early inclusion of this type of diagnosis in federal standards and recommendations, so that patients have the opportunity to receive this service for free from the budget of compulsory medical insurance and high-tech medical care."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  22.09.2017