BioPharma

Invicro acquires Imanova to advance biomedical imaging for drug R&D and access to European market

The deal also gives Invicro clinical imaging centers on both sides of the Atlantic, links to academia and opens up new market opportunities for the company in Europe

When it comes to drug development, failing early and often is regarded, at least privately, as a good thing for companies. In the early stages, little of the estimated $2.5 billion cost to bring a drug to market has been spent. So technologies that can make that process even more cost-effective for drug R&D are welcomed. One segment of the large medical imaging market is biomedical imaging. PET and MRI scans can be harnessed to assess delivery of a new drug, target engagement and pharmacological effect — referred to as the three pillars of drug survival.

Invicro has acquired UK-based translational research company Imanova in a deal that adds to Invicro’s expertise in radiochemistry, modeling, and analysis, according to a news release. The acquisition also gives Invicro clinical imaging centers on both sides of the Atlantic, links to academia and opens up new market opportunities for the company in Europe, particularly for late-phase core lab studies, Invicro Cofounder and CEO Jack Hoppin said in an email.

Imanova was formed as part of an alliance between the UK’s Medical Research Council, Imperial College London, King’s College London and University College London. Its clinical imaging center was once owned by GlaxoSmithKline.

“This represents a disruptive entry to the late phase market which has seen significant consolidation over the last 5 years,” said Kevin Cox, Imanova CEO, in the same email.

By attaching a radioisotope to a drug candidate, researchers can use capture images and generate quantitative data in humans in early clinical development and reduce the risk of further clinical development, Cox noted. Using that technology to improve understanding of drug-target interaction can help to determine dosing for proof-of-concept clinical trials.   

Both companies work with pharma and biotechnology companies in both the CNS and immuno-oncology fields. The combined business provides a comprehensive set of imaging services across the spectrum of drug development. 

Photo: Getty Images

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