Principio, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center sign technology licensing agreement

Principio Inc., a privately held emerging company developing novel molecular imaging agents and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, today announced that the Company has obtained an exclusive license to several technologies developed at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“We are extremely delighted to have obtained exclusive rights to these novel, revolutionary, and much needed imaging and radiotherapeutic molecules. We will move quickly to commercialize these much needed therapies for these devastating cancers”

The molecules include novel imaging and radiotherapeutic agents for Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) associated tumors and prostate cancer. The EBV technology, published in the October 2008 issue of the journal Nature Medicine, leverages a specific enzyme produced by the virus to allow for the imaging and therapy of the tumors caused by the virus, which include numerous lymphomas, stomach cancer, nasopharyngeal cancers, and most AIDS related lymphomas.

Under the terms of the agreement, the license gives Principio exclusive, worldwide rights to commercialize these much needed imaging agents and therapy. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are extremely delighted to have obtained exclusive rights to these novel, revolutionary, and much needed imaging and radiotherapeutic molecules. We will move quickly to commercialize these much needed therapies for these devastating cancers," stated Joe Hernandez, Founder and CEO of Principio.