Osaka, Japan – Atransen Pharma Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; Chairman&CEO: Tomoyuki Asano) today announced that the research project “Optimization of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for the Realization of Deep‑Seated Cancer Treatment,” led by the company’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Dr. Yoshikatsu Kanai at Fujita Health University, has been selected for the FY2025 Next‑Generation Cancer Medical Acceleration Research Project (P‑PROMOTE) funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).
The project aims to optimize Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) and evaluate its safety and efficacy for malignancies located in deep‑seated organs, which have been difficult to treat with conventional BNCT approaches.
- Project duration: 2 years
- Planned funding amount: Not Disclosed
- Collaborator:
Tsubasa Watanabe, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University
Ryuichi Ohgaki, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Osaka University
Minhui Xu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Osaka University
Next generation BNCT with APL1202
Atransen has positioned its proprietary drug candidate, APL1202, a LAT1‑targeted molecule designed to deliver boron selectively and efficiently, as a pivotal agent to enable BNCT for deep‑seated cancers. Pre‑clinical studies indicate favorable tumor accumulation profiles, and integration of these data with the newly funded project is expected to broaden BNCT indications to refractory malignancies such as pancreatic and hepatic cancers.
Under a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2024 with Fujita Health University and other partners, Atransen will continue to accelerate the creation of innovative treatment options for deep‑seated cancers and to strengthen industry‑academia collaboration.
Forward Outlook
Building on this grant, Atransen will expedite the establishment of clinical protocols and drug‑supply infrastructure required for BNCT, striving to deliver new therapeutic options to patients suffering from difficult‑to‑treat deep‑seated cancers.
Contact
Atransen Pharma, Ltd. (Public Relations)
E‑mail: admin@atransen.com
Website: https://www.atransen.com