Long established imprecise therapies, such as chemotherapies and external beam radiation can affect both healthy and cancerous cells and lead to consequential side effects.
Radioligand therapy by uniting diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy in a single agent offers a powerful way to locate and treat tumors, reducing side effects and improving efficacy across both local and metastatic disease.
The approval of the first two targeted radioligand therapies over the past decade has demonstrated that systemic delivery of radiation can be both safe and effective.
Unlike external beam radiation therapy—which has been used for over a century—radioligand therapy offers the advantages of systemic reach, precise tumor targeting, lower toxicity, disease imaging, and the ability to treat metastatic cancer.
Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that scalable manufacturing and distribution of critical radioisotopes is attainable, enhancing the availability of this therapeutic modality for a broader patient population.
Radioligand Therapy molecule is comprised of
i) a Chelator that holds the radioactive isotope
ii) a Linker
iii) and a targeting molecule that recognizes tumor cells, by binding to tumor-specific proteins with high selectivity.
At Actithera, we design next generation radioligand therapies (RLTs) that are retained in tumors longer, enabling more efficient and sustained radiation delivery. One of our key strategies is the use of covalent chemistries to prolong tumor residence time.
Alpha emitters deliver alpha particles that travel short distances, but pack high energy radiation causing double-strand DNA breaks that are difficult for cancer cells to repair—making resistance less likely. They are especially effective in tumors with homogenous expression of targeted cancer proteins.
Beta emitters, while lower in energy, travel up to 100 times farther. This allows them to damage not only the targeted cell but also neighboring tumor cells through efficient cross-fire effects.
Our platform is designed with flexibility, enabling the use of either alpha or beta isotopes without significant changes to the targeting molecule.
By matching the half-life of longer-lived radionuclides with the retention of our RLT compounds in the tumors we enable better sustained tumor irradiation and potentially fewer cycles of therapy.
With a foundation in cutting-edge chemistry and radiopharmaceutical innovation, Actithera discovers the next generation of radioligand therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers.
Work alongside experienced scientists and clinicians who are driven by patient impact, guided by curiosity, and grounded in humility and integrity.
