Theragnostic Platform
Advanced Accelerator Applications is a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine theragnostics, with an expanding pipeline of complementary precision imaging radioligands and targeted radioligand therapies for oncology indications. Theragnostics is a disease management strategy involving the integration of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging and therapy.
In the context of nuclear medicine, theragnostics refers to the use of targeting molecules labeled either with diagnostic imaging radioisotopes, e.g., positron or gamma emitters, such as fluorine 18 (F-18) or gallium 68 (Ga-68), or with radioisotopes used for therapy, e.g., alpha or beta emitters such as radium 223 (Ra-223), lutetium 177 (Lu-177) or actinium 225 (Ac-225) for radioligand imaging and targeted radioligand therapy of a particular disease.
Using similar molecular targeting compounds in this manner also enables a more complete approach to disease management, because diagnostic imaging can then serve several simultaneous functions:
- assessing disease,
- monitoring,
- selection for therapy
For patients, a theragnostic approach may lead to more effective care, by selecting patients who would benefit the most from certain therapeutic interventions, while reducing or eliminating unnecessary treatment. This makes the theragnostic approach both efficient and patient-centric.
For physicians, theragnostics may enhance their ability to diagnose and stage disease, select optimal therapies, and monitor treatment response and disease progression, improving prognostic capability for better health outcomes.
For payors, theragnostic approaches may reduce costs associated with suboptimal diagnostics and treatments and shorten the time needed to properly assess and treat patients with effective individualized treatment plans.