Benzinga | Mar 2, 2021 07:41AM EST

Monopar Partners with Seasoned Medtech Executive to Explore the Potential of MNPR-101 as a uPAR Imaging Agent in Cancer Surgery

Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MNPR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients, today announced it has entered into an agreement with serial medtech entrepreneur, Andrew Cittadine, to explore over the next few months strategic and developmental options for MNPR-101 as an intraoperative imaging agent in bladder cancer surgery as well as other cancers.

Mr. Cittadine is an experienced healthcare executive with a track record of building new businesses from concept through acquisition, including successful exits of Sensant Corp. to Siemens and American Biooptics to Olympus. Mr. Cittadine was the co-founder and Vice President of Marketing at Sensant Corp., and co-founder and CEO of American Biooptics. Sensant was an oncology imaging startup that developed 3D ultrasound imaging systems, and American Biooptics was a startup that developed an advanced oncology diagnostic test for gastrointestinal cancers. His most recent endeavors include serving as the CEO of Diagnostic Photonics, an imaging systems company for cancer surgeries.

"It is a strong fit," said Chandler Robinson, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Monopar, speaking to Mr. Cittadine's expertise and the recent MNPR-101 bladder cancer imaging data published in a peer-reviewed article in the European Journal of Cancer.

"Mr. Cittadine's extensive experience in the oncology diagnostics and surgical imaging space combined with his previous successes makes for an ideal collaboration on exploring the potential of MNPR-101," said Andrew Mazar, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Monopar.

"The MNPR-101 based imaging agent has shown early promise in in vivo human bladder cancer models. I am excited to work with the Monopar team exploring ways to further the development of MNPR-101, be it through a spin-out, an out-licensing, a partnership, or developing it in-house," said Andrew Cittadine, MBA.