Actithera Appoints Radiopharmaceutical Veteran Dr. Darshan Dalal as Chief Medical Officer to Lead FAP-Targeting Therapy Development
Key Insights
Actithera (search) has appointed Dr. Darshan Dalal (search) as Chief Medical Officer, bringing over 15 years of global oncology (search) and hematology (search) leadership to advance the company's lead FAP-targeting radioligand therapy (search).
Dr. Dalal has a proven track record of advancing more than 10 radioligands from preclinical through Phase III development and played a key role in developing Pluvicto, one of the field's most successful radioligand therapies.
The appointment comes as Actithera (search) prepares to advance its lead fibroblast activation protein (search)-targeting radioligand therapy into clinical development following a $75.5 million Series A financing in July 2025.
Radiopharmaceutical biotech company Actithera (search) announced the appointment of Dr. Darshan Dalal (search) as Chief Medical Officer, marking a significant milestone as the company prepares to advance its lead fibroblast activation protein (search) (FAP)-targeting radioligand therapy into clinical development. The appointment positions Actithera to accelerate its pipeline of precision-engineered radiopharmaceuticals designed to address critical unmet needs in oncology (search).
Veteran Leadership for Clinical Development
Dr. Dalal brings over 15 years of global leadership experience in oncology (search) and hematology (search), with a proven track record of advancing more than 10 radioligands across the development spectrum from preclinical through Phase III studies. His extensive background includes leadership roles at AstraZeneca and Novartis, where he led global teams with full end-to-end development accountability of multiple radioligands.
Notably, Dr. Dalal played a key role in the development of Pluvicto, one of the field's most successful radioligand therapies. His expertise extends beyond drug development, having been instrumental in more than $8 billion in merger and acquisition activity within the radioligand therapy space over the last seven years.
"Darshan's appointment marks an important milestone for Actithera (search)," said Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos (search), Chief Executive Officer of Actithera. "His track record in progressing radioligand assets from concept to late-stage development aligns perfectly with our ambition to rapidly advance our FAP-targeting and other pipeline assets into the clinic."
Strategic Focus on FAP-Targeting Platform
In his new role, Dr. Dalal will lead the clinical strategy and build the clinical development organization as Actithera (search) advances its differentiated pipeline. The company's discovery platform integrates rational drug design and radiochemistry to develop novel small molecule radioligands that address key limitations in current radiopharmaceuticals.
Actithera (search) is progressing a FAP-directed radioligand therapy development candidate with best-in-class potential due to its optimal pharmacokinetic profile and tumor specificity. The company applies various molecular design strategies, including covalent-targeting and an isotope-agnostic philosophy to develop radioligand therapies with significant differentiation and larger therapeutic windows.
"Actithera (search) has built a truly differentiated platform grounded in rigorous medicinal chemistry, giving rise to radioligand therapies with the potential for superior binding, tumor retention, selectivity and therapeutic index," said Dr. Dalal. "I am excited to join the company at this critical inflection point and to work alongside this talented team as we shape a robust clinical development strategy."
Company Momentum and Financial Backing
The appointment comes as Actithera (search) builds on the momentum from its $75.5 million Series A financing completed in July 2025, which was backed by blue chip investors. The funding is intended to advance the company's pipeline and accelerate clinical development of its lead FAP-targeting radioligand therapy (search).
Founded in 2021 by drug discovery innovator Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos (search), Actithera (search) is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company's focus on translating medicinal chemistry insights into next-generation radioligand therapies positions it to address critical unmet needs in oncology (search) through its differentiated approach to radiopharmaceutical development.