Novartis extends radiopharma lead with new collab

Swiss cancer giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing and collaboration deal with Ratio Therapeutics, aiming to develop a next-generation radiotherapeutic.

The project will focus on candidates targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), a receptor which is frequently expressed in tumors such as neuroendocrine tumors, small cell lung carcinoma, meningiomas, and breast and colorectal cancers.

The deal builds on Novartis’ established strategy in radiopharmaceuticals, which includes approved therapies Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for prostate cancer.