Navidea forms Macrophage Therapeutics unit to explore applications of Manocept

US biotech firm Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSE: NAVB) has established a new business unit, Macrophage Therapeutics, to further explore therapeutic applications for the Manocept platform.

The Manocept platform serves as the molecular backbone of Navidea’s Food and Drug Administration-approved, activated macrophage-targeting agent, Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) injection. Preclinical data being developed by the company using tilmanocept linked to various therapeutic agents suggest that tilmanocept’s binding affinity to CD206 receptors demonstrates the potential for this technology to be useful in treating diseases linked to the over-activation of macrophages. This includes various cancers as well as autoimmune, infectious, cardiovascular, and central nervous system diseases.

“Navidea’s primary focus remains the successful commercialization of Lymphoseek for use in sentinel lymph node detection and lymphatic mapping,” said Rick Gonzalez, chief executive of Navidea. "However, given Manocept’s potential to be applied in the treatment of multiple diseases based on its unique targeting properties, we have formed this new business unit to pursue therapeutic development. The plan is to continue preclinical research, further assess therapeutic agents that may be paired with Manocept, and evaluate optimal indications and regulatory pathways to enable the most efficient path to market,” he added.