The OPS-201 trial has now commenced in Perth. This IPSEN sponsored trial involves the use of Lutetium-177 OPS-201 for treatment of progressive metastatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Theranostics Australia is one of several sites worldwide currently recruiting (together with Peter Mac in Melbourne, Royal Free in London and Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York).

This agent binds to both activated and unactivated somatostatin receptors which are upregulated on these tumours. There is far higher binding via this mechanism than standard octreotate.

The protocol involves 3 cycles 8 weeks apart of intravenous Lu-177 OPS-201. All patients will have baseline Ga-68 octreotate imaging performed.

The treatment is available for all NET patients with progressive metastatic disease including gastric and pancreatic NETs, pulmonary carcinoids, paraganglionomas and phaeochromacytomas.

Patients who have previously had Lu-177 octreotate are not eligible. Patients may have had any other treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy or SSTR analogues.

Costs of all tests, treatment and follow up is covered by Ipsen. The study is open to all patients – public or private.

If you would like further information on the trial or would like to refer a patient for screening assessment please contact us via email: reception@theranostics.com.au or phone: +61 8 9091 1081.

Theranostics Australia, in collaboration with other respected industry partners, will work with PhD students and early career researchers on innovative projects at an $8.5m state-of-the-art research hub to be established at The University of Queensland (UQ).

The centre will provide firsthand training to the next generation of scientists, who will expand the boundaries of biomedical imaging to improve healthcare.

The Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology (CIBIT) will prepare new scientists to work in industry and develop ‘smart’ biotechnology and biomedical imaging techniques.

The UQ Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) Director, Professor David Reutens, said the $8.5m research will be funded by a $4.7m Australian Research Council (ARC) grant and $3.8m in cash and in-kind contributions from industry partners.

“It will play a leading role in the future of biomedical imaging,” he said.

“Biomedical imaging has been one of the most important advances in the history of medicine.

“It allows medical professionals to determine the location, nature and extent of disease with high accuracy and sensitivity, and has become an integral part of modern health care.

“This new centre will train industry-ready scientists to lead research into faster, more accurate and more cost-effective diagnostic imaging.”

The centre’s industry driven research will work to overcome barriers in the development and application of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics for important diseases like cancer.

Sixteen PhD students and five early career researchers will work on projects with industry partners.

The centre will involve researchers from across UQ, including the Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI), UQ Business School (UQBS), the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), the UQ Diamantina Institute (UQDI) and the School of Mathematics and Physics (UQSMP).

Industry partners include Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Clarity Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Minomic International Ltd, Inter-K Peptide Therapeutics Ltd, Theranostics Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Genomics Institute, Brisbane Veterinary Specialists Centre, Uniting Care Medical Imaging, and Red Radiology Pty Ltd.

The centre builds upon previous investments in CAI and the National Imaging Facility (NIF) from the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Government’s contributions to the NIF through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and the Education Investment Fund (EIF).

Original Media Release by the University of Queensland: http://bit.ly/2toXaHR