Radioligand Therapy¹

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) has been a generational mainstay in cancer management.  The anatomically targeted administration of radiation is lethal to cancer cells but exposure to neighboring healthy tissue can lead to dose-limiting toxicity

Radioligand therapy (RLT) is the next generation of radiation-based therapy that is molecularly targeted. This new technology addresses the challenges of EBRT by delivering radiation specifically to tissues that express the antigen or receptor using a targeting moiety.  Additionally, RLT allows for the same molecular targeting moiety to be used for both therapy AND imaging. The tissues that express the antigen or receptor of interest can be imaged prior to administration of the therapy to confirm expression of the target. 

What Is Radioligand Technology?²

RLT harnesses the power of molecular targeting to locate and destroy cancer cells with high precision. A radioligand is a molecule composed of:

•   Targeting moeity – binds to specific biomarkers on cancer cells
•   Radioisotope – emits radiation for imaging or therapy
•   Chelator and linker – stabilize and connect the components

This combination allows radioligands to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

How It Works

Radioligands are designed to seek out cancer-specific markers - like receptors or antigens - and bind to them. Once attached, the radioactive component either:

•   Visualizes tumors via diagnostic imaging
•   Destroys tumors through targeted radiation (Radioligand Therapy, RLT)

This dual capability is known as a theranostic approach—integrating therapy and diagnostics in one platform³

Applications in Oncology

Radioligand therapy is transforming cancer care, especially for tumors that are difficult to treat with conventional methods. Key applications include:

•   Prostate cancer – FDA-approved therapies like Pluvicto^® target PSMA-positive tumors
•   Emerging targets – ongoing research is expanding use to breast, lung, and other cancers

Our RLT platform utilizes Soricimed’s proprietary TRPV6 targeting peptide as molecular targeting moiety. Optimization of the lead candidates is accomplished by manipulating the biomolecular properties through modification of the linker and chelator. Choice in radioisotope (e.g. ¹⁷⁷Lu, ²²⁵Ac, ⁶⁷Cu, ²¹²Pb, etc.) is informed by biomolecular properties of the peptide and linker observed during preclinical studies.   

References:

¹ Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 24, 584-585 (2025)

² www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/radiopharmaceuticals-cancer-radiation-therapy

³ Journal of Nuclear Medicine 58, (Supplement 2) 3S-9S (2017)