- $2 million Phase II SBIR grant awarded to advance image-guided alpha-particle therapy for metastatic melanoma and radioisotope production technologies

- Second year of a $2 million Phase II SBIR funding to begin a Phase 1 clinical imaging trial of complementary Pb-203 and Ga-68 diagnostics for metastatic melanoma

- $2 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awarded to fund development activities and advance preclinical studies of VMT-𝛼-NET for neuroendocrine tumors and radionuclide production technologies

CORALVILLE, IA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2021 / Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc. ('Viewpoint' or the 'Company'), a radiopharmaceutical company developing precision α-particle oncology therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents, today announced it has been awarded a total of $5 million in Phase II grants from the National Cancer Institute under the SBIR program and National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grants will be utilized to advance the Company's proprietary image-guided alpha-particle radiotherapies in development to enable a unique approach to optimize treatment that could potentially improve efficacy and minimize toxicity associated with many other cancer drugs.

Radionuclide therapy is a well-established treatment for cancer. However, there remains shortcomings in efficacy and toxicity arising from treatments. To address the needs in the current cancer therapy landscape in tandem with the goal of optimizing patient care, Viewpoint is developing therapeutic radiopharmaceutical drugs and complementary diagnostic imaging agents that may have the potential to optimize patient care.

'As we work to advance our cutting-edge oncology therapeutics and complimentary diagnostic imaging agents, securing non-dilutive funding remains a key component of our overall strategy. These grants from the National Cancer Institute provide capital to further advance our two lead programs, VMT01 and VMT-𝛼-NET, allowing us to move into the clinic as quickly as possible. These grants also enable acceleration of our therapeutic radioisotope production technologies. In this way, we'll advance our goal of becoming a fully integrated alpha-therapy company,' commented Frances Johnson, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Acting CEO of Viewpoint.

Viewpoint's VMT01 program is intended to meet an unmet clinical need with the use of a new imaging agent to guide Viewpoint's radiopharmaceutical therapy against metastatic melanoma. This image-guided approach is often referred to as 'theranostics.' Using information guided by the low-risk medical imaging scan, a treatment plan utilizing the VMT01 ligand is designed to deliver the power of alpha-particle radiation specifically to melanoma tumors, while minimizing risk to unaffected organs and tissues. VMT01 represents a unique way to treat metastatic melanoma that has been vetted as scientifically sound by rigorous peer review and has the potential to be transformative for melanoma patients.

Viewpoint's VMT-𝛼-NET program is in development to meet the need for improved radiopharmaceutical therapy for neuroendocrine tumors and other tumor types bearing the targeted biomarker. Preclinical data seen to-date provides strong evidence that the VMT-𝛼-NET image-guided approach can be an effective therapy with a promising toxicity profile. Supported by over $4 million in the form of Small Business Innovation Research grants and R01 academic research grants from the NCI to advance this treatment, VMT-𝛼-NET is well-positioned to apply the new transformative power of alpha-particle treatment to NET tumors and other cancers that bear the SST2R biomarker.

The Company plans to advance its VMT01 and VMT-𝛼-NET programs into Phase 1 imaging studies, to be followed by Phase 1/2a therapy trials for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors at two leading academic institutions.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R44CA250872, R44CA254613, and R44CA203430. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

About Viewpoint

Viewpoint Molecular Targeting is a radiopharmaceutical company developing precision oncology therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents. The Company's leading alpha-particle radiotherapies are designed to deliver powerful alpha radiation specifically to cancer cells utilizing specialized targeting peptides. Viewpoint is also developing complementary diagnostics that utilize the same targeting peptide which provide the opportunity to personalize treatment and optimize patient outcomes. This 'theranostic' approach enabling the ability to see the specific tumor and then treat it to potentially improve efficacy and minimize toxicity associated with many other types of cancer treatments.

The Company's melanoma (VMT01) and neuroendocrine tumor (VMT-𝛼-NET) programs are entering Phase 1 imaging studies, to be followed by Phase 1/2a therapy trials for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors at two leading academic institutions. For more information, please visit the Company's website viewpointmt.com.

Investor Inquiries:

Jenene Thomas
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JTC Team, LLC
T: 833.475.8247
[email protected]

SOURCE: Viewpoint Molecular Targeting