Cancer research organisation The START Center for Cancer Research, its preclinical division XenoSTART, and Denmark-based biotech company Minerva Imaging, announced on Tuesday an expansion of their decade-long partnership to establish the industry's most comprehensive integrated platform for radiopharmaceutical drug development.

This collaboration unites XenoSTART's repository of clinically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with Minerva Imaging's advanced molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy expertise, creating a single-source solution spanning discovery, translational research, and manufacturing.

Minerva Imaging operates as a fully integrated CRO and CDMO specialised in radiopharmaceuticals. It provides comprehensive imaging modalities (PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI), advanced orthotopic in-vivo models, and GMP-certified manufacturing infrastructure for radiopharmaceuticals. This integration enables precise validation of therapeutic mechanisms and supports seamless progression of candidates from preclinical evaluation through clinical translation, the partners said.

Michael Wick, PhD, XenoSTART chief scientific officer, said: "XenoSTART provides the most predictive preclinical platform in the industry. Expanding our work with Minerva Imaging ensures that sponsors benefit from seamless integration of these models with advanced radiopharmaceutical development, particularly in prostate cancer where the clinical need is acute."

The START Center for Cancer Research provides access to specialised preclinical and early-phase clinical trials of novel anti-cancer agents.