Vienna – From emerging prostate cancer targets to Europe's aging research reactors, Prof. Wolfgang Wadsak sees both scientific opportunities and practical obstacles ahead for radiopharmaceutical development.
In a video interview at EANM 2026 in Vienna, Wadsak, a medicinal radiochemist and chair of EANM's Guidelines and Publications Council, discussed advances in PSMA-targeted therapy, the potential of new targets such as ACP3, and the growing range of radionuclides that could allow more personalized cancer treatment.
Wadsak, who has also returned to hands-on radiopharmaceutical preparation at Vienna's MINUTE medical clinic, emphasized the importance of practical considerations in drug development. "The most important one actually, and that's something we tend to forget, is availability," he said, pointing to production capacity, costs, and Europe's dependence on aging research reactors.
Looking further ahead, Wadsak highlighted the need to identify new targets beyond prostate cancer, particularly for breast, ovarian, and lung cancers. "The target definition – that's the real wish that we have," he said.
The interview also covers molecular design, the challenges of translating promising compounds into clinical applications, unequal access to radiopharmaceuticals across Europe, and the prospect of introducing PSMA radioligand therapy earlier in the course of prostate cancer.
Our full coverage of EANM 2026 can be found here.
