NOVEL TUMOR ANTIGEN BINDING AGENTS AND USES THEREOF

1 . A compound according to General Formula (1)(i) or (1)(ii):

wherein A is a diagnostic or therapeutic agent comprising a binding site for a tumor antigen, and the spacer comprises at least one C—N bond.

2 . The compound according to claim 1 , wherein the tumor antigen is prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

3 . The compound according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the diagnostic or therapeutic agent A comprises a radiolabel.

4 . The compound according to claim 3 , wherein the radiolabel is a non-metallic radionuclide or a radiometal.

5 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the diagnostic or therapeutic agent A comprises a chelator.

6 . The compound according to claim 5 , wherein the diagnostic or therapeutic agent A comprises a radiometal coordinated via the chelator.

7 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the compound is characterized by the following General Formula (1a):

wherein D is a chelator;

Tbm is a tumor-antigen binding moiety;

linker is a linker, preferably comprising a cyclic group or an aromatic group;

spacer is a spacer comprising a C—N bond; and

a is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.

8 . A compound characterized by the following General Formula (1a):

wherein D is a chelator;

Tbm is a tumor-antigen binding moiety;

linker is a linker, preferably comprising a cyclic group or an aromatic group;

spacer is a spacer comprising a C—N bond; and

a is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

9 . The compound according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein the tumor-antigen binding moiety (Tbm) is a PSMA-binding moiety (Pbm).

10 . The compound according to claim 9 , wherein the PSMA-binding moiety is characterized by General Formula (3):

wherein

X and Y are each independently selected from O, N or NH or NH 2 , S or P,

Z is selected from CH 2 or substituted CH 2 , wherein one or both of the hydrogen atoms may be substituted,

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from —COH, —CO 2 H, —SO 2 H, —SO 3 H, —SO 4 H, —PO 2 H, —PO 3 H, —PO 4 H 2 , —C(O)—(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, —C(O)—O(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, —C(O)—NHR 4 , or —C(O)—NR 4 R 5 , wherein R 4 and R 5 are each independently selected from H, bond, (C1-C10)alkylene, F, Cl, Br, I, C(O) or —CH(O), C(S) or —CH(S), —C(S)—NH-benzyl-, —C(O)—NH-benzyl, —C(O)—(C 1 -C 10 )alkylene, —(CH 2 ) p —NH, —(CH 2 ) p —(C 1 -C 10 )alkyene, —(CH 2 ) p —NH—C(O)—(CH 2 ) q , —(CH r CH 2 ) t —NH—C(O)—(CH 2 ) p , —(CH 2 ) p —CO—COH, —(CH 2 ) p —CO—CO 2 H, —(CH 2 ) p —C(O)NH—C[(CH 2 ) q —COH] 3 , —C[(CH 2 ) p —COH] 3 , —(CH 2 ) p —C(O)NH—C[(CH 2 ) q —CO 2 H] 3 , —C[(CH 2 ) p —CO 2 H] 3 or —(CH 2 ) p —(C 5 -C 14 )heteroaryl, and

f, p, q, r and t are each independently an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;

preferably

X O or S, and

Y NH or O or S.

11 . The compound according to claim 10 , wherein f is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; preferably f is 2 or 3.

12 . The compound according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein Y is O or NH.

13 . The compound according to any one of claims 10 - 12 , wherein Z is CH 2 or C═O.

14 . The compound according to any one of claims 10 - 13 , wherein the PSMA-binding moiety is characterized by General Formula (3)(ii):

wherein

X is selected from O, N or NH or NH 2 , S or P,

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from —COH, —CO 2 H, —SO 2 H, —SO 3 H, —SO 4 H, —PO 2 H, —PO 3 H, —PO 4 H 2 , —C(O)—(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, —C(O)—O(C 1 -C 10 )alkyl, —C(O)—NHR 4 , or —C(O)—NR 4 R 5 , wherein R 4 and R 5 are each independently selected from H, bond, (C1-C10)alkylene, F, Cl, Br, I, C(O) or —CH(O), C(S) or —CH(S), —C(S)—NH-benzyl-, —C(O)—NH-benzyl, —C(O)—(C 1 -C 10 )alkylene, —(CH 2 ) p —NH, —(CH 2 ) p —(C 1 -C 10 )alkyene, —(CH 2 ) p —NH—C(O)—(CH 2 ) q , —(CH r CH 2 ) t —NH—C(O)—(CH 2 ) p , —(CH 2 ) p —CO—COH, —(CH 2 ) p —CO—CO 2 H, —(CH 2 ) p —C(O)NH—C[(CH 2 ) q —COH] 3 , —C[(CH 2 ) p —COH] 3 , —(CH 2 ) p —C(O)NH—C[(CH 2 ) q —CO 2 H] 3 , —C[(CH 2 ) p —CO 2 H] 3 or —(CH 2 ) p —(C 5 -C 14 )heteroaryl, and

b, p, q, r and t are each independently an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;

preferably

X O or S, and

Y NH or O or S.

15 . The compound according to any one of claims 10 - 14 , wherein X is O.

16 . The compound according to any one of claims 10 - 14 , wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from —COH, —CO 2 H, —SO 2 H, —SO 3 H, —SO 4 H, —PO 2 H, —PO 3 H, —PO 4 H 2 .

17 . The compound according to claim 16 , wherein each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is —COOH.

18 . The compound according to any one of claims 14 - 17 , wherein b is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, preferably b is 2, 3 or 4, more preferably b is 3.

19 . The compound according to any one of claims 14 - 18 , wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each COOH, X is O, and b is 3.

20 . The compound according to any one of claims 9 - 19 , wherein the PSMA-binding moiety is characterized by Formula (3)(a):

21 . The compound according to any one of claims 9 - 13 , wherein the PSMA-binding moiety is characterized by Formula (3)(b):

22 . The compound according to any one of claims 7 - 21 , wherein the linker is characterized by the Structural Formula (4):

wherein

X is each independently selected from O, N, S or P,

Q is selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkylaryl and cycloalkyl, preferably from substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 14 aryl, C 5 -C 14 alkylaryl or C 5 -C 14 cycloalkyl, and

W is selected from —(CH 2 ) c -aryl or —(CH 2 ) c -heteroaryl, wherein c is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

23 . The compound according to claim 22 , wherein each X is O.

24 . The compound according to claim 22 or 23 , wherein Q is selected from substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl.

25 . The compound according to claim 24 , wherein Q is cyclohexyl.

26 . The compound according to any one of claims 22 - 25 , wherein W is selected from —(CH 2 ) c -naphthyl, —(CH 2 ) c -phenyl, —(CH 2 ) c -biphenyl, —(CH 2 ) c -indolyl, —(CH 2 ) c -benzothiazolyl, wherein c is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

27 . The compound according to claim 26 , wherein W is selected from —(CH 2 )-naphthyl, —(CH 2 )-phenyl, —(CH 2 )-biphenyl, —(CH 2 )-indolyl or —(CH 2 )-benzothiazolyl.

28 . The compound according to claim 26 or 27 , wherein W is —(CH 2 )-naphthyl.

29 . The compound according to any one of claims 22 - 28 , wherein the linker is characterized by the following Structural Formula (4a):

30 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 29 , wherein said compound is characterized by General Formula (1)(b) or (1)(c):

wherein D is a chelator;

spacer is a spacer comprising a C—N bond; and

a is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, preferably 0 or 1;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

31 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 30 , wherein the spacer comprises a linear or branched, optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbyl, more preferably C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbyl, even more preferably C 2 -C 6 hydrocarbyl, even more C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbyl, the hydrocarbyl comprising at least one, optionally up to 4 heteroatoms preferably selected from N.

32 . The compound according to claim 30 or 31 , wherein the spacer comprises —[CHR 6 ] u —NR 7 —, wherein R 6 and R 7 are each be independently selected from H and branched, unbranched or cyclic C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbyl, and u is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein u is preferably 2, 3, or 4, more preferably 2 or 4.

33 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 32 , wherein the spacer is —[CH 2 ] 2 —NH— or —[CH 2 ] 4 —NH—.

34 . The compound according to any of claims 1 to 33 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one amino acid residue or an amino acid residue side chain, wherein the amino acid is preferably selected from lysine, aspartate, asparagine, diaminobutyric acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, serine, proline, leucine, isoleucine, valine, arginine, histidine, glutamate, glutamine, and alanine.

35 . The compound according to claim 33 or 34 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of a lysine residue or a lysine residue side chain.

36 . The compound according to claim 35 , wherein the spacer further comprises a further amino acid residue or a side chain thereof.

37 . The compound according to claim 36 , wherein the further amino acid residue or the side chain thereof is selected from aspartate, asparagine and diaminobutyric acid.

38 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 37 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(a) or Formula (2)(a)′ or Formula (2)(a)″:

wherein k is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, preferably 2, 3 or 4.

39 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 38 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(b):

wherein m is an integer selected from 1 or 2, and n is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, preferably from 1, 2 or 3.

40 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 39 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(c) or (2)(c)′:

wherein o is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 and k is as defined above.

41 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 38 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(d) or (2)(d)′:

wherein A is an amino acid residue or -[A] n is absent and n is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, preferably from 0 or 1, and k is as defined above.

42 . The compound according to claim 41 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(d)(i) or (2)(d)(i)′:

wherein k is as defined above.

43 . The compound according to claim 41 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(d)(ii) or (2)(d)(ii)′:

wherein k is as defined above.

44 . The compound according to claim 41 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(d)(iii) or (2)(d)(iii)′:

wherein k is as defined above.

45 . The compound according to claim 41 , wherein the spacer comprises or consists of Formula (2)(d)(iv) or (2)(d)(iv)′:

wherein k is as defined above.

46 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 45 , wherein said compound is characterized by General Formula (1)(n) or (1)(o):

wherein D is a chelator;

A is an amino acid residue, a side chain thereof or —[CHR 6 ] u NR 7 —, wherein R 6 and R 7 are each be independently selected from H and branched, unbranched or cyclic C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbyl, and u is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein u is preferably 2, 3, or 4, more preferably 2 or 4;

V is absent or selected from a single bond, N or NH, or an optionally substituted C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbyl comprising up to 3 heteroatoms, wherein said heteroatom is preferably selected from N, wherein V more preferably contains 1 or 2 C—N bond(s);

a is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; and

n is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, preferably from 0 or 1;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

47 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 46 , wherein said compound is characterized by Formula (7)(a) or (7)(a)′:

wherein D is a chelator;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

48 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 46 , wherein said compound is characterized by Formula (7)(b) or (7)(b)′:

wherein D is a chelator;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

49 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 46 , wherein said compound is characterized by Formula (7)(c) or (7)(c)′:

wherein D is a chelator;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

50 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 46 , wherein said compound is characterized by Formula (7)(d) or (7)(d)′:

wherein D is a chelator;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

51 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 46 , wherein said compound is characterized by Formula (7)(e) or (7)(e)′:

wherein D is a chelator;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

52 . The compound according to any one of claims 5 - 51 , wherein the chelator (D) is selected from 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), N,N″-bis[2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)-benzyl]ethylenediamine-N,N″-diacetic acid (HBED-CC), 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA), 2-(4,7-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazonan-1-yl)pentanedioic acid (NODAGA), 2-(4,7,10-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl)-pentanedioic acid (DOTAGA), 1,4,7-triazacyclononane phosphinic acid (TRAP), 1,4,7-triazacydononane-1-[methyl(2-carboxyethyl)-phosphinic acid]-4,7-bis[methyl(2-hydroxymethyl)phosphinic acid] (NOPO), 3,6,9, 15-tetraazabicyclo[9,3,1]pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene-3,6,9-triacetic acid (PCTA), N′-{5-[Acetyl(hydroxy)amino]pentyl}-N-[5-({4-[(5-aminopentyl)(hydroxy)amino]-4-oxobutanoyl}amino)pentyl]-N-hydroxysuccinamide (DFO), and Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), or derivatives thereof.

53 . The compound according to any one of claims 5 - 52 , wherein the chelator is selected from DOTA, DOTAGA, NODAGA, DO3AP, DO3AP PrA or DO3AP ABn .

54 . The compound according to claim 52 or 53 , wherein the chelator is DOTA.

55 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 54 , wherein said compound is characterized by Structural Formula (8)(a) or (8)(a)′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

56 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 54 , wherein said compound is characterized by Structural Formula (8)(b) or (8)(b)′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

57 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 54 , wherein said compound is characterized by Structural Formula (8)(c) or (8)(c)′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

58 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 54 , wherein said compound is characterized by Structural Formula (8)(d) or (8)(d)′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

59 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 - 54 , wherein said compound is characterized by Structural Formula (8)(e) or (8)(e)′:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof.

60 . Use of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 59 for the preparation of a radiolabeled complex.

61 . A compound according to any of claims 1 to 59 for use as a medicament or as a precursor of a medicament.

62 . A radiolabeled complex comprising a radionuclide and a compound according to any one of the preceding claims.

63 . The radiolabeled complex according to claim 62 , wherein the radiolabel is selected from the group consisting of 94 Tc, 99m Tc, 90 In, 111 In, 67 Ga, 68 Ga, 86 Y, 90 Y, 177 Lu, 151 Tb, 186 Re, 188 Re, 64 Cu, 67 Cu, 55 Co, 57 Co, 43 Sc, 44 Sc, 47 Sc, 225 Ac, 213 Bi, 212 Bi, 212 Pb, 227 Th, 153 Sm, 166 Ho, 152 Gd, 153 Gd, 157 Gd, or 166 Dy.

64 . The radiolabeled complex according to claim 62 or 63 , wherein the radiolabel is 177 Lu.

65 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to any one of claims 1 to 60 , or a radiolabeled complex according to any one of claims 62 - 64 , and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent and/or excipient.

66 . A kit comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 60 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate or radiolabeled complex thereof, a radiolabeled complex according to any one of claims 62 - 64 or a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 64 .

67 . The compound according to any one of claims 1 to 60 , the radiolabeled complex according to any one of claims 62 - 64 , the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 65 or the kit according to claim 66 for use in medicine and/or diagnostics.

68 . The compound according to any one of claims 2 to 60 , the radiolabeled complex according to any one of claims 62 - 64 , the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 65 or the kit according to claim 66 for use in a method of detecting the presence of (isolated) cells and/or tissues expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

69 . The compound according to any one of claims 2 to 60 , the radiolabeled complex according to any one of claims 62 - 64 , the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 65 or the kit according to claim 66 for use in a method of diagnosing, treating and/or preventing cancer, preferably prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer or bladder cancer.

70 . The compound, radiolabeled complex, pharmaceutical composition or kit for use according to any one of claims 67 - 69 , wherein said method or use comprises

(a) administering said compound, radiolabeled complex or pharmaceutical composition to a patient, and

(b) obtaining a radiographic image from said patient.

71 . An in vitro method of detecting the presence of cells and/or tissues expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) comprising

(a) contacting said PSMA-expressing cells and/or tissues with a compound, radiolabeled complex, pharmaceutical composition or kit according to any one of the preceding claims;

(b) applying detection means, optionally radiographic imaging, to detect of said cells and/or tissues.

72 . The compound, the radiolabeled complex, the pharmaceutical composition or the kit for use according to any one of claims 67 - 70 , or the method according to claim 71 , wherein radiographic imaging comprises positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

73 . The compound, the radiolabeled complex, the pharmaceutical composition or the kit for use according to any one of claims 67 - 70 or 72 , or the method according to claim 71 or 72 , wherein said one or more cells or tissues comprise (optionally cancerous) prostate cells or tissues, (optionally cancerous) spleen cells or tissues, or (optionally cancerous) kidney cells or tissues.

74 . The compound, the radiolabeled complex, the pharmaceutical composition or the kit for use according to any one of claims 67 - 70 or 72 - 73 , or the method according to any one of claims 71 - 73 , wherein the presence of PSMA-expressing cells or tissues is indicative of a prostate tumor (cell), a metastasized prostate tumor (cell), a renal tumor (cell), a pancreatic tumor (cell), a bladder tumor (cell), and combinations thereof.