ImaginAb, an Inglewood, Calif.-based developer of in vivo molecular imaging agents, has signed a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Singapore Radiopharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Fortis HealthCare.

"This agreement represents an important component of our expansion program in Singapore as we establish R&D and pre-clinical imaging capabilities there," said Christian Behrenbruch, Ph.D., CEO of ImaginAb. "Singapore Radiopharmaceuticals has an excellent track record in custom radiochemistry and cGMP product manufacturing and we are pleased to transition our ad hoc collaboration to a more robust alliance."

ImaginAb's technology enables antibodies to be re-engineered into smaller proteins (fragments) with fast kinetics suitable for diagnostic imaging, while maintaining target biospecificity. In this way, true companion in vivo diagnostics can be rapidly developed that enable target expression to be profiled in tissues in a non-invasive, whole-body manner. ImaginAb has over a dozen development programs with global biopharma companies to develop companion diagnostic imaging agents to therapeutic antibody drugs (in phase I to BLA), as well as an internal pipeline targeting unmet clinical needs, such as the staging of metastatic prostate and pancreatic cancer.

"ImaginAb has an exciting product pipeline and an extensive pharma client base in need of cGMP radiochemistry services for clinical trials in all corners of the world," said Dr. Nevil Chimon, CEO of Singapore Radiopharmaceuticals. "ImaginAb's presence in Singapore is a visible part of Singapore's growing footprint in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine."