Starpharma Holdings Ltd Files Patent as DEP Data Shows Tumour Targeting Edge
Starpharma files new patent as DEP® radiopharmaceutical data shows differentiated profile
Starpharma (ASX: SPL) has filed a new patent application covering the use of its DEP® dendrimer technology in radioligand therapy (RLT), supported by encouraging preclinical data showing a differentiated radiopharmaceutical profile.
The dual development combines a differentiated preclinical dataset with fresh intellectual property (IP) that strengthens the platform. Radiopharmaceuticals are among the fastest-growing areas of precision oncology, and the update reinforces Starpharma’s position to pursue partnering opportunities in a high-interest sector.
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What the preclinical data showed
Across a range of targeted dendrimer radiopharmaceutical constructs, Starpharma reported a biodistribution profile that its constructs appear to share consistently. Biodistribution refers to how a drug spreads through the body after being administered.
The preclinical observations included strong and sustained tumour uptake, with tumour-associated signal evident for a prolonged period post-dose. The constructs also showed low off-target accumulation, including reduced kidney and systemic exposure.
Starpharma further observed rapid blood clearance combined with efficient renal excretion, without prolonged kidney retention. This profile was consistent across HER2, PSMA and EGFR targets, supporting the view of DEP® as a modular, broadly applicable platform.
DEP HER2-Lu preclinical data illustrates the platform in action at the target level, with tumour radioactivity reaching approximately 150 times greater than blood levels at 12 days post-dose and survival outcomes in HER2-positive models exceeding those recorded for Enhertu.
| Finding | What it means | Why it matters for investors |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced tumour uptake and retention | Radiation signal remains concentrated at the tumour | Supports potential for an improved therapeutic window |
| Reduced off-target accumulation | Lower kidney and systemic exposure | May reduce healthy-tissue exposure risk |
| Consistent cross-target data | Similar profile across HER2, PSMA, EGFR | Points to a modular, reusable platform |
| New patent filed | DEP® use in RLT covered by IP filing | Strengthens platform IP and partnering position |
Taken together, these findings suggest the DEP® platform may enable delivery of therapeutically relevant radiation doses to tumours while reducing exposure to healthy tissues, supporting the potential for an improved therapeutic window relative to existing approaches.
Why radioligand therapy matters
Radioligand therapy (RLT) delivers targeted radiation directly to tumours to treat cancer. The central challenge is balance: getting enough radiation to the tumour while limiting kidney exposure and prolonged circulation in the body.
Current approaches often face trade-offs between these factors. Starpharma’s DEP® dendrimer technology, built on precise, synthetically manufactured nanoscale molecules, is designed to address these limitations through controlled delivery and modified biodistribution profiles.
The company frames the contrast between conventional approaches and its own design as follows:
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Peptides and fragments: can be constrained by high kidney uptake
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Antibodies: can be constrained by prolonged systemic exposure
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DEP® dendrimers: designed to combine favourable delivery characteristics with tuneable pharmacokinetics
For investors, the modular nature of the platform is central. A single technology base that performs consistently across targets can support multiple assets and parallel partnering programs.
A growing market and the partnering opportunity
The commercial thesis rests on sector momentum. According to Starpharma, the global radiopharmaceutical market is valued at approximately US$8 billion and is expected to grow to around US$15 billion by 2030.
The company notes that strong clinical outcomes are driving investment and partnering activity, attracting significant strategic interest from global pharmaceutical companies. The consistent cross-target data and the new patent application strengthen Starpharma’s position to pursue partnering opportunities across the sector.
CEO Commentary
“These data highlight the potential for our DEP® platform to deliver a differentiated radiopharmaceutical profile, combining strong tumour targeting with reduced off-target exposure. Radiopharmaceuticals are an exciting and rapidly growing area of oncology, and we believe DEP® is well positioned to address key limitations in current approaches. The filing of this patent further strengthens our platform IP and supports our strategy to generate value through the development and partnering of multiple DEP® radiopharmaceutical programs,” said Cheryl Maley, Chief Executive Officer of Starpharma.
What the patent covers and what comes next
The new patent application covers the use of Starpharma’s DEP® dendrimer technology in RLT, further strengthening the company’s IP position in radiopharmaceutical drug delivery.
Importantly, the application is expected to support protection of DEP® radiopharmaceutical approaches across multiple targets, reinforcing the company’s ability to develop and partner a range of differentiated assets within this field.
Starpharma continues to evaluate partnering opportunities with specialist radiopharmaceutical and oncology companies. These assets remain preclinical, and no clinical or regulatory milestones have been claimed.
Investors exploring the regulatory pathway being built around these assets can read our full explainer on the DEP HER2 FDA validation, which details the Type C guidance meeting outcome, the confirmed unmet medical need designation, and the first-in-human Phase 1 study design that follows directly from the preclinical work described here.
The company’s own framing points to three reasons the filing matters:
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Strengthens the platform IP position
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Protects DEP® approaches across multiple oncology targets
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Supports the partnering-led value creation strategy
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Portfolio context
The radiopharmaceutical work sits within a broader portfolio that includes three clinical-stage DEP® assets, preclinical radiopharmaceutical assets, research collaborations, and three commercially marketed over-the-counter (OTC) products. For investors, the preclinical progress adds a new dimension to an established dendrimer platform.
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