Louise Emmett wants radiopharmaceutical developers to be bolder.
Radiopharmaceuticals are a powerful new tool in oncology. She and other experts believe that these 21st-century spins on radiation could destroy cancer cells and help patients live longer. But Emmett, who is a leader in the field and works with global drugmakers including AstraZeneca and Novartis, among others, thinks the pharma industry is scared of their power. More specifically, she and likeminded experts believe the treatments can be dosed more frequently than they are.
As this field has grown over the last five years, however, some drug developers have found that their experimental therapies inadvertently affect patients’ kidneys, liver, or bone marrow. Such safety concerns have led at least one company to shut down in recent months and caused headaches at other organizations.