RAD301 is a peptide-based molecule bound to Gallium-68 (Ga-68) that targets αvβ6-integrin, a cellular marker for tumor invasion and metastatic growth, the expression of which correlates with decreased survival in several carcinomas. The αvβ6-integrin receptor is found in high density on most pancreatic carcinoma cells, making it an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic target. RAD 301 has previously received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the FDA.

Data from the Phase 1 trial of RAD301 demonstrated a favorable safety profile in all evaluable participants. Additionally, RAD301 had favorable biodistribution along with significant tumor uptake in pancreatic cancer metastases, consistent with initial results from the first five patients evaluated. The results showed significant and selective tumor uptake in pancreatic cancer metastases, which supports the potential of αvβ6-integrin as a target for future therapeutic development and potentially as a theranostic pair. Importantly, the low background uptake observed in liver, lung and bowel — the sites where pancreatic cancer most often spreads — supports the potential of RAD301 to distinguish metastatic lesions from surrounding normal tissue. The unmet medical need in the earlier stages of disease and the high mortality of the disease provide a rationale for a future Phase 2 imaging trial of RAD301.