On the eve of ASCO, Bayer AG announced it was acquiring Noria Therapeutics and its subsidiary PSMA Therapeutics – which has a preclinical actinium-225 candidate aimed at PSMA, like Novartis’ lutetium PSMA expansion. Bayer is one of the few firms with a radiopharmaceutical business, along with Amgen, Inc. and Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited.

But it is likely the closest competition for Novartis’s expansion plans, as Bayer markets a targeted alpha therapy, Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dicholoride), for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer – although a safety issue when used with Johnson & Johnson’s prostate cancer blockbuster Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) has limited Xofigo’s potential. Prostate cancer remains a focus for Bayer, which also has a PSMA-targeting antibody with thorium-227 in Phase I. (Also see "Bayer Back In Radiopharmaceuticals Ring With Noria Buy" - Scrip, 4 June, 2021.)

The private German radionuclides company ITM Isotopen Technologien München AG has been working toward expanding into radiotherapeutics, and has a lutetium-177 product in Phase III for GEP-NETs, Lutathera’s initial indication. (Also see "ITM Charts A Path From Radionuclides To Radiotherapeutics And Attracts Financing" - Scrip, 22 April, 2021.)

Novartis Broadens VISION On Radioligands

Firm Prepares For Expansion Into Prostate Cancer

More from ASCO

More from Conferences