The reasons for this lack of interest from private investors are of multiple origins. For industry, conventional or radiopharmaceutical industry, it is first a matter of priority. In fact, there is also a lack of interest which can be explained with the following:
- Radioactivity has still a bad image and most people are reluctant in entering in this area. Priority is always given to non-radioactive solutions whenever possible, even if less efficient
- In cancer therapy, priority is given to other modalities (beam radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery), mainly because radiotherapeutics are not there yet as an alternative solution. As a consequence, it also orients the decision process when developing a new treatment
- So far radiopharmaceutical drugs have not generated a single blockbuster that would be sufficient to convince all investors. The lack of a broad success can be easily explained by the limited accessibility to the treatment, but also by the development of treatment for very specific diseases for which there is only limited competition and no large market. As until now Nuclear Medicine concentrated only on small markets, only small return on investment could be expected
- The complexity of the technology and the absence of expertise in the domain of the deciders are also largely affecting the interest. However it must be known that these difficulties have all been solved and the whole process is now well under control by expert manufacturers
- There is an overall lack of knowledge and awareness about radiopharmaceuticals and Nuclear Medicine, even among physicians. Two other generations of physicians may be necessary until this technology will be considered as a serious alternative by oncologists, unless one large scale drug makes it through before.
- Finally, Nuclear Medicine is at the forerun of personalized medicine, but this concept is just under development. A couple of decades will be needed until it is used in a routine way.
In summary, somehow one will have to demonstrate with a few examples that there can be a financial and economic interest in radiotherapeutics before investors or conventional pharmaceutical companies become interested in the field. This may take more than a decade.
As investors, i.e. individuals looking for a return on investment have not seen yet the potential of these radiopharmaceutical substances, the only solution to promote their development is to seek funds from individuals or institution that are not looking for an immediate profit. Creating a Foundation became the obvious and immediate alternative.
