Lilly exercises $1B option on Radionetics in radiopharma drive

Eli Lilly is preparing to potentially acquire Radionetics Oncology to advance its small-molecule radiopharmaceuticals targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This move marks the company's most recent venture into the radiopharmaceutical sector following its $1.4-billion acquisition of POINT Biopharma and its PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy PNT2002 late last year.

Under the agreement announced on Monday, Eli Lilly will pay $140 million upfront and gain an option to purchase Radionetics for $1 billion after an unspecified period. During this time, Radionetics will continue developing its pipeline, focusing on small-molecule radioligand therapeutics targeting GPCRs. The company emphasized that GPCRs represent a "largely unexplored target space for radiopharmaceuticals" due to their overexpression in many tumors. Radionetics claims to have established "the only platform for the rapid discovery and development of novel small molecule radiopharmaceuticals that bind to GPCRs."

This deal with Radionetics is the second significant radiopharmaceutical partnership Eli Lilly has entered into this year. In May, the company paid $60 million upfront to utilize Aktis Oncology’s miniprotein technology to create radiopharmaceuticals for solid tumors. This collaboration holds potential value up to $1.1 billion.

Eli Lilly is not the only pharmaceutical company investing heavily in radiopharmaceutical candidates. Over the past year, at least three other major pharmas have collectively invested billions of dollars in this burgeoning field. Novartis, a seasoned player in the modality, spent $1 billion in May to acquire Mariana Oncology, a developer of radioligand therapies. In March, AstraZeneca invested around $2 billion to purchase Fusion Pharmaceuticals, whose assets are based on actinium-225. Additionally, Bristol Myers Squibb entered the radiopharmaceutical arena with a $4.1-billion acquisition of RayzeBio in December.

These substantial investments indicate a growing interest and competition in the radiopharmaceutical sector, as companies seek to expand their pipelines with innovative therapies targeting specific cancer mechanisms.

How to obtain the latest research advancements in the field of biopharmaceuticals?

In the Synapse database, you can keep abreast of the latest research and development advances in drugs, targets, indications, organizations, etc., anywhere and anytime, on a daily or weekly basis. Click on the image below to embark on a brand new journey of drug discovery!