Last reviewed · How we verify
Radium-223 chloride
Radium-223 is an alpha-emitting radioisotope that mimics calcium and selectively targets bone metastases, delivering high-energy alpha particles directly to cancer cells in bone.
Radium-223 is an alpha-emitting radioisotope that mimics calcium and selectively targets bone metastases, delivering high-energy alpha particles directly to cancer cells in bone. Used for Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases.
At a glance
| Generic name | Radium-223 chloride |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Xofigo, Radium-223 dichloride |
| Sponsor | Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc |
| Drug class | Targeted alpha therapy; radiopharmaceutical |
| Target | Bone matrix (calcium-mimetic); osteoblastic lesions |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Radium-223 chloride is a targeted alpha therapy that localizes to areas of increased bone turnover, particularly in osteoblastic bone metastases. The alpha particles emitted have a short range (2-3 cell diameters) that causes double-strand DNA breaks in cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This mechanism makes it particularly effective for treating bone-metastatic disease while preserving bone marrow function.
Approved indications
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases
Common side effects
- Bone marrow suppression (thrombocytopenia, anemia, leukopenia)
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
Key clinical trials
- Testing the Addition of Radium Therapy (Radium-223 Dichloride) to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Paclitaxel) for Advanced Breast Cancer That Has Spread to the Bones (PHASE2)
- Radiation Medication (Radium-223 Dichloride) Versus Radium-223 Dichloride Plus Radiation Enhancing Medication (M3814) Versus Radium-223 Dichloride Plus M3814 Plus Avelumab (a Type of Immunotherapy) for Advanced Prostate Cancer Not Responsive to Hormonal Therapy (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Testing the Addition of a New Anti-cancer Drug, Radium-223 Dichloride, to the Usual Treatment (Cabozantinib) for Advanced Renal Cell Cancer That Has Spread to the Bone, RadiCaL Study (PHASE2)
- Study of Nivolumab in Combination w Radium-223 in Men w Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (PHASE1)
- RADIANT: A Study of Radium-223 Dichloride (Xofigo) vs Enzalutamide or Abiraterone (ARPIs, Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors) in Patients With Prostate Cancer That Has Spread to the Bones (mCRPC, Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer) (PHASE4)
- Enzalutamide With or Without Radium Ra 223 Dichloride in Patients With Metastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (PHASE2)
- A Phase III Study of Radium-223 Dichloride in Patients With Symptomatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer With Skeletal Metastases (PHASE3)
- Testing the Safety of Different Doses of Olaparib Given Radium-223 for Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer With Bone Metastasis (PHASE1, PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Radium-223 chloride CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Radium-223 chloride updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc portfolio CI