Intratumoral Alpha Emitting Radiotherapeutics
From Local Control to Systemic Impact in Solid Tumor Treatment
Innovators in Alpha Therapy
Alpha TAU Medical is a clinical-stage oncology company pioneering intratumoral alpha-emitting radiotherapeutics to address multiple solid tumor types, including those with few or no currently viable treatment options.
Therapeutic Applications for Multiple Tumor Types
Every tumor is unique, but the challenge is the same: to deliver treatment precisely where it’s needed, regardless of tumor depth or location. Alpha DaRT® delivery systems are engineered for both superficial and deep-seated tumors, integrating seamlessly into existing physician workflows.
Clinical Pipeline: Expanding the Reach of Alpha DaRT®
From early-stage pre-clinical research to global, multi-center clinical trials, Alpha DaRT is currently being evaluated as a treatment across a wide range of cancer patient needs, including: as both a stand-alone therapy and in combination strategies with systemic agents; as a treatment for many tumor types, from superficial skin tumors to those in deep-seated organs; and as a therapy for both metastatic and inoperable disease.
Patient Support
Alpha Tau is committed to empowering patients with accurate, accessible information about Alpha DaRT clinical trials.
We offer:
- Plain-language explanations of Alpha DaRT treatment options being studied
- Clear and helpful guidance on finding clinical trials and determining potential eligibility
- Resources to learn additional information
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Intratumoral Alpha-Emitting Radiotherapeutics?
The term radiotherapeutics refers to the use of naturally occurring elements as a therapy, and alpha-emitting radiotherapeutics are radiotherapeutics which send out powerful alpha particles. Intratumoral alpha-emitting radiotherapeutics are such radiotherapeutics which are inserted into the tumor with the aim to destroy cancer from within. Instead of treating the whole body, this approach is designed to deliver potent alpha-particle therapy directly inside a solid tumor.
Alpha Tau’s Alpha DaRT is considered an intratumoral alpha-emitting radiotherapeutic because it uses tiny sources containing radium-224 that are placed into the tumor. As the radium-224 naturally breaks down, it creates alpha-emitting daughter radioisotopes which release alpha particles that spread through the tumor and kill cancer cells.
Because alpha particles travel only a very short distance, the intended therapeutic effect is limited to within the tumor, while minimizing impact on nearby healthy tissue. Importantly, this approach is tumor agnostic, meaning it can potentially work across many types of solid tumors.
How can Alpha DaRT® be both highly targeted and also achieve coverage throughout the tumor?
Alpha DaRT was designed to combine the physical properties of alpha-emitting radiotherapeutics with a unique intratumoral delivery approach to achieve both precision and sufficient tumor coverage.
Alpha particles are naturally limited in their movement, and can spread up to approximately 2.5 mm, only a few cell lengths, within tumor tissue. This limitation actually creates a dual beneficial effect: the treatment remains highly localized because alpha particles cannot travel far, while still reaching a broader area within the tumor due to the controlled spread of the alpha-emitting radioisotopes.
What does “from local treatment to systemic control” mean?
It means that a treatment applied directly to a tumor may have effects beyond that single tumor location, and may also treat metastatic cancers.
While Alpha DaRT is a local, intratumoral therapy, studies suggest it may help stimulate the body’s immune system to recognize cancer cells on a more systemic level. This could allow the immune system to recognize and respond not only to the treated tumor, but also to cancer in other parts of the body.
This potential is still being studied, and Alpha Tau is also exploring combinations with immunotherapies to further understand a synergistic effect.
Why is Alpha Tau’s approach different from traditional cancer therapies?
Most cancer treatments either circulate throughout the body or are delivered from outside the body. Alpha DaRT takes a fundamentally different approach.
Unlike systemic therapies, which travel through the bloodstream and which pass energy through healthy tissue to reach the tumor, Alpha DaRT is placed directly inside the tumor and works from within.
It uses the physical power of alpha particles to destroy cancer cells, rather than relying on specific biological targets. This makes the approach less dependent on tumor type or genetic profile.
Can Alpha DaRT be used across different tumor types or multiple tumors?
Yes. Alpha DaRT is designed as a tumor-agnostic therapy, meaning it can potentially be used across many types of solid tumors.
Because alpha particles destroy cancer cells through a physical mechanism rather than a biological target, the treatment does not depend on specific mutations or biomarkers. As long as the tumor is solid and accessible, the same approach can potentially be applied.