China-based 3D Medicines has dosed the first patient in an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) for its novel PSMA-targeting radionuclide conjugate 177Lu-PSMA-3D1015, demonstrating pre-clinical efficacy at 25% the radioactive dose of standard therapies. The candidate shows 2-fold higher PSMA binding affinity and 3.2-fold greater tumour exposure compared to existing treatments, achieving prolonged tumour retention through optimised molecular design. This approach reduces radiation exposure risks while maintaining antitumour activity in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

The dose optimisation strategy addresses key challenges in radiopharmaceutical therapy, including production costs and treatment accessibility. With global PSMA-targeted therapies reaching USD 1.39 billion in 2024 sales, 3D Medicines' platform could significantly enhance resource efficiency in nuclear medicine. The company's pipeline includes additional targeted radionuclides and alpha-emitting isotopes for comprehensive theranostic applications in oncology.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database lists a total of 40 active 177Lu-based radiopharmaceutical projects targeting PSMA, including a product launched by Novartis. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.