Using targeted radiation to combine therapeutic and diagnostic modalities, our technology has potential to benefit patients across their entire cancer journey.
Many existing therapies for cancer and rare diseases are non-selective and as a result can harm healthy tissue and vital organs while treating disease. Existing external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) approaches are effective but typically only deliver localised treatment and cause damage to surrounding tissue. Localised therapeutic approaches rely on the treating physician making assumptions about the extent of disease and can result in imprecise application of treatment. Treatments that miss small amounts of affected cells can lead to a recurrence of the cancer.
Our radiopharmaceuticals are designed to deliver focused doses of radiation with precision targeting via an injection, regardless of where the cancer or disease is in the body.
This step-by-step process shows how targeted radiation travels through the body to find, image and treat cancerous or diseased cells.
A radioactive isotope (‘payload’) is attached to a targeting agent such as a small molecule or antibody, with an affinity for biomarkers found on the surface of cancerous or diseased cells. Depending on the choice of radioisotope payload, either imaging or therapy can be delivered.
The targeted radiation drug is administered into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body.
Targeted radiation seeks out cancer cells wherever they are, including small metastases (where the cancer has spread) and binds selectively to its target. The specificity of the targeting agent is designed to concentrate radiation at the tumor sites and to limit off-target tissue exposure. This is different from traditional radiation therapy, which is typically only delivered to a local tumor site.
Some radioisotopes have physical properties that may be used to image cancer, for diagnosis and staging purposes. Higher dose radiation with different alpha- and beta-emitting radioisotopes can be used as therapies to kill cancerous or diseased cells.
Telix’s investigational therapies are studied in partnership with leading global cancer centers.
