Radioligand Therapy Market Summary

• According to DelveInsight, Radioligand Therapy Market is expected to grow rapidly by 2034.
• LUTATHERA recorded more than USD 450 million in sales in the first nine months of 2023, with a growth rate of 34% year over year and Novartis believes LUTATHERA could notch more than USD 1 billion in peak sales as a first-line therapy.
• Upon approval in 2022, PLUVICTO generated full-year sales standing at USD 980 million and the PSMA-directed therapy barely missed its chance at reaching blockbuster status in its first full year.

Radioligand Therapy Market Insights and Trends

• In 2018, the US FDA approved LUTATHERA (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) and it became the first Radioligand Therapy Market Driver or radiopharmaceutical that has been approved for the treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). Then, in 2024, the FDA approved it as the first medicine specifically for pediatric patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
• Radioligand therapy is an innovative treatment approach, which is administered through an intravenous infusion. It combines the power of radioisotopes with a target-seeking ligand to deliver radiation to cancer cells expressing a specific target, even when they have spread throughout the body. With RLT, the goal is to deliver the treatment to the target cells to damage or destroy those cells while limiting impact to surrounding cells.
• Moreover, several Radioligand Therapy is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. An example is Lillys, Lu-PNT2002 which is in the developmental stage and is anticipated to receive approval during the forecast period.
• In March 2024, Novartis announced that it had acquired Mariana Oncology, a biotech specializing in developing radioligand Therapy (RLTs) for cancer treatment. As per terms of the agreement, Novartis is expected to make an upfront payment of $1 billion, with further potential payments of up to $750 million upon the completion of pre-specified milestones.
• In October 2023, Lilly acquired Point Biopharma with USD 1.4 billion and deepened its oncology pipeline. In the deal, Lilly will gain ownership of Point’s lead asset PNT2002, a radioligand therapy against targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), being trialed for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had progressed after hormonal treatment. The candidate carries the beta-emitting radioisotope lutetium-177.
• In March 2024, AstraZeneca announced that it will acquire Fusion Pharmaceuticals for USD 2 billion to accelerate the development of next-generation radioconjugates to treat cancer. The acquisition brings new expertise and pioneering R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain capabilities in actinium-based RCs to AstraZeneca
• In January 2024, the FDA approved Novartis's new automated radioligand therapy production plant for PLUVICTO - a radioligand therapy (RLT) for prostate cancer.
• In January 2024, InHealth launched the United Kingdom’s first relocatable radioligand therapy service. 
• Eli Lilly, Curium, AstraZeneca/Fusion, and several other companies are currently engaged in the development and production of radioligand, which has the potential to significantly impact and enhance the radioligand Therapy market.

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Factors Affecting Radioligand Therapy Market Growth

Rising Cancer Prevalence

Increasing cases of prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and other malignancies boost demand for targeted RLT options.

Advancements in Targeted Therapies

Development of novel radiopharmaceuticals and improved radionuclides (like Lu-177 and Ac-225) enhance treatment precision and efficacy.

Expanding Clinical Evidence

Strong clinical trial outcomes demonstrating improved survival and reduced side effects are increasing physician and patient adoption.

Regulatory Approvals & Pipeline Expansion

Approvals of therapies such as Lutathera and Pluvicto, along with a robust pipeline, are accelerating market momentum.

Growing Investments & Collaborations

Increased funding from pharma companies and strategic partnerships are advancing R&D and global commercialization.

Rising Awareness & Adoption in Oncology Centers

Broader availability of nuclear medicine facilities and growing clinician awareness support faster adoption.

Personalized Medicine Trend

Demand for patient-specific and precision oncology approaches is fueling interest in RLT.

Favorable Reimbursement & Government Support

Expanding healthcare coverage and supportive regulatory frameworks are facilitating access to radioligand therapies.

DelveInsight’s “ Radioligand Therapy Market Size, Target Population, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of the radioligand Therapy, historical and forecasted epidemiology, competitive landscape as well as the radioligand Therapy market trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

The Radioligand therapy market outlook report provides current Radioligand Therapy Market Treatment practices, emerging drugs, market share of individual Therapy, and current and forecasted 7MM radioligand therapy market size from 2020 to 2034. The Radioligand therapy market report also covers current radioligand therapy treatment practices/algorithms and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assess the Radioligand therapy market’s potential.

Radioligand Therapy Treatment Market

Radioligand therapy are a form of targeted nuclear medicine that may recognize and treat diseases such as cancer. Radioligand therapy deliver radiation to certain cancer cells that express specific targets. Radioligand therapy marks a significant advancement in precision oncology, offering a targeted approach to cancer treatment

Radioligand Therapy have 2 primary components the radioisotope and the cell-targeting compound, or ligand which are joined together by a chemical with each other. A radioisotope is a radioactive particle that releases radiation to target cells and destroys them and the targeting ligand is the one that attaches to cells that express specific targets and directs the radioisotope to cells with these targets.  

Therapeutic radioisotopes are produced in special nuclear reactors or generators, and then shipped to a production facility where the radioisotope is bonded to the cell-targeting compound. The finished product is then placed in vials, sent through quality testing, packaged into special lead-shielded containers, and shipped directly to the hospital or clinic as a ready-to-use therapy. 

The most common forms of radionuclide or radioligand therapy include XOFIGO, PLUVICTO (both for prostate cancer), and ZEVALIN (for lymphomas).

Further details related to country-based variations are provided in the report

Radioligand Therapy Market 

For Radioligand Therapy Treatment. The targeting compound part of radioligand is designed to bind specifically to proteins or receptors that are overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. 

Radioligand therapy generally works in the following ways:

Target Identification: Researchers identify specific proteins or receptors that are overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. These proteins serve as targets for the radioligand.

Radioligand Development: A targeting molecule (ligand) is developed or selected to bind specifically to the identified target protein or receptor. This ligand is then attached to a radioactive isotope, usually through a chemical linker.

Administration: The radioligand is administered to the patient, typically intravenously. The radioligand circulates in the bloodstream and binds to the target proteins on the surface of cancer cells.

Localization: The radioligand accumulates in the cancer cells, delivering radiation directly to the tumor sites while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.

Radiotherapy: Once localized within the cancer cells, the radioactive isotope emits radiation, which damages the DNA of the cancer cells, leading to their death.

Elimination: Any unbound radioligand is cleared from the body through urine or feces, minimizing exposure to healthy tissues.

One of the advantages of radioligand therapy is its ability to deliver high doses of radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues, thus reducing side effects.

Recent Developments in Radioligand Therapy Clinical Trials

• In October 2024, Sanofi has partnered with Orano Med, a subsidiary of the Orano Group and a leader in developing targeted alpha therapies for oncology, to pool their expertise in combating rare cancers and speed up the advancement of next-generation radioligand treatments.

Radioligand Therapy Drug Analysis

The drug chapter segment of the Radioligand therapy market reports encloses a detailed analysis of radioligand therapy marketed drugs and late-stage (Phase III and Phase II) pipeline drugs. It also helps understand the radioligand therapy clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details, advantages and disadvantages of each included drug the latest news and press releases.

Radioligand Therapy Marketed Drugs

• LUTATHERA (lutetium LU 177 dotatate): AAA USA/Novartis

LUTATHERA is the very first therapy approved specifically for children with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). It is now offering new hope to young patients living with this rare cancer. LUTATHERA is also approved in Europe for unresectable or metastatic, progressive, well-differentiated (G1 and G2), SSTR-positive GEP-NETs in adults, and in Japan for SSTR-positive NETs.

LUTATHERA is a radioactive drug that works by binding to a part of a cell called a somatostatin receptor, which may be present in certain tumors. After binding to the receptor, the drug enters the cell allowing radiation to cause damage to the tumor cells.

• PLUVICTO (lutetium lu-177 vipivotide tetraxetan): Novartis  

PLUVICTO is the first FDA-approved targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) for eligible patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that combines a targeting compound (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope. 

The active moiety of lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan is the radionuclide lutetium-177 which is linked to a moiety that binds to PSMA, a transmembrane protein that is expressed in prostate cancer, including mCRPC. Upon binding of lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan to PSMA-expressing cells, the beta-minus emission from lutetium-177 delivers radiation to PSMA-expressing cells, as well as to surrounding cells, and induces DNA damage which can lead to cell death.