Sanofi’s $110M radioligand hits tumor target in pivotal phase 2 study

Sanofi’s AlphaMedix therapy met key response and safety endpoints in a phase 2 trial for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), validating its $110M acquisition.

Why it matters: This success marks Sanofi’s breakthrough in radioligand therapy, offering new hope for patients with hard-to-treat tumors and reinforcing alpha therapies as a promising cancer approach.

Backstory: Sanofi acquired AlphaMedix from RadioMedix and Orano Med in 2024, paying €110M upfront and promising up to €220M in milestones. AlphaMedix targets somatostatin receptors using lead-212 to deliver alpha-emitting payloads directly to tumors. Patients in the trial included both those previously treated with Novartis' Lutathera and those who were not.

Big picture: This is Sanofi’s first major radioligand move, followed by a €300M expansion deal with Orano Med. The success of AlphaMedix positions Sanofi as a serious contender in the fast-growing radiopharma space, dominated by players like Novartis.

Zoom in: Sanofi will present full results of its trial at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Germany later this month. The trial had 61 patients hit its main goals for response rate and safety, with data that supports regulatory discussions to bring AlphaMedix to market.