Therapeutic radiopharmaceutical market poised for takeoff

Feb 20, 2006

Although U.S. sales of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals totaled just $57 million in 2005, rapid growth is anticipated over the next five to six years. By 2012, therapeutic radiopharmaceutical product sales should reach $1.9 billion, with high growth continuing beyond that time, according to a recent study by market research firm Bio-Tech Systems.

The Las Vegas-based company said that the introduction of new therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for treating lymphoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, bone cancer, and other persistent malignancies will drive market growth. As confidence has grown with respect to the prospects for FDA approval of these drugs, it has prompted investigators to utilize different isotopes with more appropriate energy levels and half-lives for specific applications.

This has resulted in considerable research involving alpha emitters, where the shorter particle range and high-energy deposition can be used to destroy DNA directly. There are a number of products in development employing bismuth‑212, bismuth-213, astatine-211, radium-223, and polonium-210, Bio-Tech said.

The firm believes that molecular imaging will be merged with therapy to obtain patient-specific dosimetry for optimizing response and minimizing side effects. This should bring oncologists and nuclear physicians closer together, resulting in an even greater synergy of the medical specialties.

Bio-Tech said that this type of market stimulus will provide the impetus for more traditional pharmaceutical companies to enter the field with radioactive versions of targeted therapeutic products in order to enhance treatment options.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
February 20, 2006

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