AdvanCell Secures $18M MRFF Grant for Prostate Cancer Therapy
AdvanCell, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company pioneering next-generation cancer therapeutics, has been awarded $18 million in funding from the Australian Federal Government through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Frontiers Initiative. This investment will support a groundbreaking project titled “Defeating Prostate Cancer with Targeted Alpha Therapy.”
Prostate cancer affects one in eight men, making it one of the most common cancers among men globally. This major federal grant is designed to accelerate the development of novel treatment approaches by backing a collaborative, multidisciplinary team focused on transforming how prostate cancer is managed and treated.
At the heart of the initiative is AdvanCell’s proprietary Lead-212 (²¹²Pb) alpha isotope production technology. This cutting-edge platform enables the development of targeted alpha therapies (TATs), one of the most promising innovations in oncology. The funding will support a first-of-its-kind clinical platform trial aimed at speeding up the clinical translation of ²¹²Pb-based therapies into practice.
The MRFF-backed research brings together a consortium of leading scientists, clinicians, and research institutions across Australia and internationally. This includes a strategic combination of academic and industry expertise, designed to integrate advanced radiopharmaceutical technologies with clinical trial innovation and deep insights into tumor biology.
Dr. Anna Karmann, AdvanCell’s Chief Medical Officer, expressed her gratitude for the award on behalf of the research team:
“Targeted alpha therapies represent a significant advancement in oncology, offering the potential to change the treatment landscape for patients with prostate cancer. We are incredibly thankful to the MRFF Frontiers Initiative and the Australian Government for their support. This funding will allow us to fast-track the translation of new therapies and explore powerful combination treatments through academic-industry collaboration.”
Key clinical leaders in this initiative include two globally recognized physician-scientists—Professor Louise Emmett of St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and the University of New South Wales, and Professor Shahneen Sandhu of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
Professor Emmett highlighted the strategic importance of the grant:
“This collaborative Frontiers grant gives us the tools to rigorously evaluate targeted alpha therapy combinations in prostate cancer. Our aim is to extend survival and improve quality of life by using advanced technology in the smartest possible way.”
Professor Sandhu emphasized the impact on patient care:
“With this MRFF grant, we’ll be able to accelerate the development of targeted alpha therapy combinations that hold real potential to improve clinical outcomes for patients.”
The scientific component of the research will be led by a team of top-tier investigators, including Professor Richard Payne (The University of Sydney), Professor Matt Trau, Dr. Alain Wuethrich, and Dr. Kevin Koo (The University of Queensland), Dr. Scott Lovell (University of Bath), Associate Professor Serigne Lo (Melanoma Institute Australia), and AdvanCell’s Dr. Thomas Kryza and Dr. Simon Puttick.
Professor Stephen Rose, Head of Translational Medicine and Clinical Science at AdvanCell, underlined the broader importance of the funding:
“This MRFF support not only accelerates clinical translation but also drives local innovation, helping to establish sovereign manufacturing capabilities for ²¹²Pb-targeted alpha therapies. This is a significant step forward for Australia’s radiopharmaceutical ecosystem.”
The MRFF Frontiers Initiative is known for supporting bold, high-impact research designed to revolutionize health care. With this funding, AdvanCell and its partners are poised to lead a new era in prostate cancer treatment—one defined by precision, innovation, and improved patient outcomes.
About AdvanCell
AdvanCell is a clinical-stage company developing innovative cancer therapies based on targeted alpha-emitting radionuclides. By combining in-house radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, translational science, and clinical development capabilities, the company aims to deliver novel cancer treatments with the potential to significantly improve survival and quality of life for patients around the world.
