Novartis has announced promising early results from its experimental actinium-based radiopharmaceutical drug, which has shown significant anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer patients. This includes those who have previously been treated with Pluvicto, another Novartis drug. The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.

Study Results

The study involved 101 patients, with 52.5% of those previously treated with Pluvicto experiencing a reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by at least half. PSA is a common marker used to detect prostate cancer. The response was even more pronounced in patients who had not received Pluvicto, with over 85% of them showing a similar reduction in PSA levels. Among those who had undergone chemotherapy first, 58.8% saw their PSA levels fall by half.

Managing Side Effects

While the early data suggests clear efficacy, analysts from TD Cowen have cautioned that managing side effects, such as high rates of dry mouth and severe anemia, will be crucial. Novartis’ Chief Medical Officer, Shreeram Aradhye, emphasized the need for larger trials to fully assess the severity and reversibility of these side effects, especially if the drug is used in earlier lines of treatment.

Investment in Radioligand Therapies

Novartis is heavily investing in radioligand therapies, which now account for nearly 40% of its cancer research and development investments. The company is proceeding with two late-stage studies of the experimental drug. Radioligand therapies work by delivering radiation directly to cancer cells, and the new drug uses actinium-225, an alpha-emitting isotope, which delivers higher energy over a smaller distance compared to Pluvicto’s lutetium-177, a beta-emitting isotope.

Supply and Future Plans

There are concerns about the current supply of actinium-225, which may not meet the growing clinical demand. However, Novartis is planning for future isotope needs and has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Niowave, a U.S.-based medical isotope producer, to secure actinium.

As radiopharma continues to be a fast-growing area of cancer treatment, other major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bayer, and AstraZeneca have also acquired radio-drug developers in recent years.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.