Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Alpha Emitters, Beta Emitters, and Brachytherapy), By Application (Oncology, Cardiology, Thyroid, and Other Applications), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 998.12 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.65%
Fastest Growing Segment	Oncology
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1734.74 Million

Market Overview

The Global Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market will grow from USD 998.12 Million in 2025 to USD 1734.74 Million by 2031 at a 9.65% CAGR. The Global Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market is defined by the utilization of radiopharmaceuticals that deliver precise, targeted doses of radiation to treat specific pathologies, primarily within oncology and cardiology. These therapeutic agents function by binding to biological markers on cell surfaces, thereby destroying malignant tissues with high efficacy while sparing healthy cells. The market is principally driven by an aging global population and a concurrent rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions, which are accelerating the demand for advanced precision treatments. According to the World Nuclear Association, in 2024, approximately 50 million nuclear medicine procedures were performed globally, highlighting the substantial scale and growing reliance on these medical interventions.

However, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the fragility of the global radioisotope supply chain. The short physical half-lives of therapeutic isotopes necessitate a rapid, flawless logistical network from production reactors to clinical settings, leaving virtually no buffer for delays. Consequently, reliance on a limited number of aging production facilities creates vulnerability to supply disruptions, which can lead to immediate shortages and restrict patient access to these time-sensitive therapies.

Key Market Drivers

The rising prevalence of cancer remains the primary catalyst for the global nuclear medicine therapeutics market necessitating the development of targeted treatment modalities that offer higher efficacy than traditional chemotherapy. As the burden of oncological diseases intensifies healthcare systems are increasingly prioritizing radiopharmaceuticals that can identify and treat tumors simultaneously. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, February 2024, in the 'Global cancer burden growing' press release, the number of new cancer cases is predicted to rise to over 35 million in 2050 representing a significant increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. This projected surge underscores the urgent requirement for scalable therapeutic options particularly for managing late stage prostate and neuroendocrine cancers where precision is critical for patient outcomes.

Concurrently a surge in public and private investment evidenced by strategic acquisitions is rapidly accelerating market maturation and innovation. Pharmaceutical giants are actively acquiring biotech firms with established radiopharmaceutical pipelines to secure a position in this rapidly expanding sector. According to AstraZeneca, March 2024, in the 'acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceuticals' announcement, the company entered a definitive agreement to acquire Fusion for approximately $2.4 billion to integrate next generation radioconjugates into its oncology portfolio. These capital infusions facilitate the expansion of manufacturing capabilities and the progression of novel alpha therapies through clinical trials. According to Novartis, in 2024, sales for the radioligand therapy Pluvicto reached USD 386 million in the third quarter demonstrating the commercial viability and increasing clinical uptake of these advanced treatments.

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Key Market Challenges

The fragility of the global radioisotope supply chain constitutes a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market. Since therapeutic isotopes possess extremely short physical half-lives, they cannot be stockpiled, necessitating a continuous, just-in-time delivery model that leaves no margin for logistical errors. The market relies heavily on a small cluster of aging research reactors, where unscheduled maintenance or technical failures immediately disrupt the availability of critical treatments. This vulnerability creates significant market volatility, as even minor production halts result in immediate downstream shortages for hospitals and clinics.

This unreliability directly hampers market growth by causing frequent procedure cancellations and eroding clinician confidence in the consistency of these therapies. According to Nuclear Medicine Europe, in 2024, unexpected production delays resulted in supply shortages ranging from 50% to 100% across various global regions. Such severe disruptions force healthcare providers to postpone urgent oncological and cardiac interventions, limiting patient throughput and revenue generation. Consequently, this unpredictability deters institutions from investing in new nuclear medicine infrastructure, stalling the broader commercial adoption of these precision treatments.

Key Market Trends

The market is witnessing a decisive shift toward the Acceleration of Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) Development, moving beyond established beta-emitters to leverage the higher linear energy transfer of alpha particles. Unlike beta radiation, alpha particles deliver high-energy payloads over an extremely short range, causing irreparable double-strand DNA breaks in tumor cells while minimizing toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue. This enhanced therapeutic index is driving intense clinical activity, particularly for managing metastatic cancers that have become resistant to standard hormonal or beta-emitting radioligand therapies. Validating the clinical efficacy of this approach, according to Bayer, May 2025, in the 'ASCO 2025: XOFIGO Combination Data' press release, the addition of the alpha-emitter radium-223 to enzalutamide significantly improved outcomes, reducing the risk of radiological progression or death by 31% in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Concurrently, there is a pronounced trend toward the Verticalization of Radioisotope Supply Chains, as industry stakeholders aggressively consolidate manufacturing and distribution infrastructure to mitigate logistical vulnerabilities. By internalizing production capabilities, companies are moving away from reliance on fragmented external suppliers, ensuring a more reliable "just-in-time" delivery mechanism for short-lived isotopes. This strategic consolidation allows for greater control over quality, scheduling, and patient access, directly addressing the bottleneck of isotope scarcity. This valuation of integrated logistics is evident in major market transactions; according to CapVest Partners, November 2025, in the 'CapVest recapitalises Curium' announcement, the firm executed a transaction valuing the vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical producer Curium at circa $7 billion, explicitly citing its end-to-end capabilities in manufacturing and logistics as a primary driver of the valuation.

Segmental Insights

The oncology segment currently represents the fastest-growing category within the global nuclear medicine therapeutics market. This accelerated expansion is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of cancer and the increasing adoption of targeted radioligand therapies. Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. FDA have recently approved specific treatments for prostate and neuroendocrine tumors, which has significantly validated clinical efficacy and boosted market confidence. Additionally, the shift toward precision medicine allows for highly localized treatment of malignant cells, thereby fueling the demand for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in oncology applications.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global nuclear medicine therapeutics market due to substantial investment in research and development combined with a well-established healthcare infrastructure. The region benefits significantly from the presence of major market players and a supportive regulatory environment, where the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actively facilitates the approval of novel radiopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the high prevalence of chronic conditions, particularly in oncology and cardiology, drives consistent demand for targeted therapeutic interventions, thereby securing the region's dominance in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Plus Therapeutics, Inc. announced the signing of a manufacturing services agreement with SpectronRx to advance the production of its lead radiotherapeutic candidate. This collaboration focused on securing a scalable supply chain for Rhenium (186Re) Obisbemeda, a targeted therapy designed for central nervous system cancers, including recurrent glioblastoma. The partnership leveraged the contract manufacturer's specialized facilities and expertise to support late-stage clinical trials and prepare for potential commercial demand. This development highlighted the growing importance of strategic manufacturing alliances in ensuring the reliable delivery of complex nuclear medicine therapeutics to patients.
• In June 2024, AstraZeneca finalized the acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a developer of next-generation radioconjugates, in a deal valued at approximately $2.4 billion. This strategic move added a clinical-stage program for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and a proprietary fast-internalizing alpha-therapy platform to the company's offerings. The collaboration focused on replacing traditional chemotherapy with targeted actinium-225 therapies that deliver radiation with high precision. Through this acquisition, the company also gained essential manufacturing and supply chain expertise, positioning itself to accelerate the development and distribution of innovative radiopharmaceuticals on a global scale.
• In May 2024, Novartis entered into an agreement to acquire Mariana Oncology, a biotechnology firm specializing in novel radioligand therapies, for an upfront payment of $1 billion. This acquisition was designed to bolster the company’s research infrastructure and expand its pipeline with programs addressing solid tumors, including breast, prostate, and lung cancers. The transaction, which included potential milestone payments of up to $750 million, underscored the industry's commitment to advancing precision medicines that minimize damage to healthy tissue. By integrating these early-stage assets, the company aimed to strengthen its leadership position in developing next-generation nuclear medicines for patients with high unmet needs.
• In February 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb completed the acquisition of RayzeBio, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on radiopharmaceutical therapeutics, for approximately $4.1 billion. This strategic transaction incorporated a promising pipeline of actinium-based therapies into the company’s oncology portfolio, including a lead program targeting gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The deal provided the acquirer with access to a proprietary platform for developing targeted alpha therapies, which deliver potent radiation directly to cancer cells. Additionally, the acquisition secured a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, significantly enhancing the company’s capabilities in the rapidly expanding nuclear medicine sector.

Key Market Players

• Actinium Pharmaceutical Inc.
• Alpha Tau Medical Ltd
• Bayer AG
• Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• IBA Radiopharma Solutions
• RadioMedix Inc.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd
• NTP Radioisotopes Pty Ltd.
• Bracco SpA
• Cardinal Health Inc.
• Nordion Inc.
• Triad Isotopes Inc.

By Type	By Application	By Region
Alpha Emitters Beta Emitters Brachytherapy	Oncology Cardiology Thyroid Other Applications	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market, By Type:

• Alpha Emitters
• Beta Emitters
• Brachytherapy

• Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market, By Application:

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Thyroid
• Other Applications

• Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE