The radiopharmaceutical landscape is poised for a significant shift as peptide-based therapeutics emerge as promising alternatives to traditional antibody-based approaches, according to WuXi AppTec's discovery services vice-president Dr. Dave Madge at the ELRIG Drug Discovery conference in London.
Advantages of Peptide-Based Radiotherapeutics
Despite the established use of antibody-based radiopharmaceuticals in cancer therapy, only two such treatments have received FDA approval - Spectrum Pharmaceutical's Zevalin and GSK's Bexxar. While antibodies offer high specificity and affinity for target antigens, peptide-based alternatives present distinct advantages, particularly in tissue penetration and reduced toxicity profiles.
"We see a lot of potential to reposition a lot of existing radiotherapeutics that are antibody derived to peptide-based radiotherapeutics," Madge emphasized during his presentation.
Industry Investment and Manufacturing Expansion
WuXi AppTec has demonstrated its commitment to this emerging field through significant manufacturing investments. In January 2024, the company commissioned two new peptide manufacturing facilities in China - one in Changzhou and another in Taixing. This expansion increases their solid-phase peptide synthesis reactor volume to 32,000L, responding to what the company describes as "surging global demand for peptide therapeutics."
Major Pharmaceutical Companies Embrace Radiopharmaceuticals
The radiopharmaceutical sector has attracted substantial investment from leading pharmaceutical companies:
- Bristol Myers Squibb secured a $4.2 billion deal
- Novartis completed a $1.75 billion acquisition
- Eli Lilly invested $1.4 billion in the space
The industry's growing interest stems from the potential of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, which combine diagnostic imaging with therapeutic capabilities.
Regulatory and Political Challenges
Despite the promising outlook, WuXi AppTec faces potential hurdles from the US BIOSECURE Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. The legislation could restrict US companies from collaborating with certain Chinese biotech firms, including WuXi AppTec.
In response, WuXi AppTec issued a statement defending its position: "We firmly believe that WuXi AppTec has not posed, does not pose, and will not pose a security risk to the US or any other country and it has not been subject to any sanction by the US Government agencies."
