The traditional model of the pharmaceutical industry focuses on developing single-use drugs. However, platform-based approaches are gaining ground in modern medicine, as the limitations of this model become increasingly clear in the treatment of complex diseases, metastatic cancers, and chronic cardiometabolic disorders. Against this backdrop, Novartis has chosen a platform-based strategy that includes Radioligand Therapy (RLT) and RNA Interference (RNAi). This approach has created multifaceted therapeutic possibilities and has radically changed treatment standards.
This review summarizes the impact of Novartis’s latest platforms, using Radioligand Therapy (RLT) in oncology and RNA Interference (RNAi) in cardiometabolic diseases. Early evidence shows significant benefits in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer using Pluvicto: the risk of progression or death was reduced by 59%, and progression-free survival almost doubled (from 5.6 to 11.6 months). At the same time, Inclisiran (Leqvio), an siRNA drug targeting PCSK9, showed in the V-DIFFERENCE study presented at the 2025 European Society of Cardiology Congress that 85% of patients’ LDL cholesterol levels returned to the target range within 90 days of starting treatment. These data suggest that platform-based innovations, instead of single-use products, could form the basis of a new therapeutic paradigm in oncology and cardiometabolic medicine.
Radioligand Therapy in Oncology
Radioligand Therapy (RLT) combines targeted biological agents with radioactive isotopes that specifically bind to and destroy tumor cells while maximizing the preservation of healthy tissue.
Novartis’s journey into radioligand therapy began nearly a decade ago with the strategic acquisitions of Advanced Accelerator Applications and Endocyte. Through these smart moves, Novartis acquired both scientific expertise and manufacturing infrastructure. The company’s leading drug, Pluvicto, is approved for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Clinical trials have shown that Pluvicto reduces the risk of progression or death by 59% and increases progression-free survival from 5.6 months to 11.6 months.
Its efficacy is currently being studied in other cancer locations, including lung, breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. Analysts estimate that RLT has the potential to create a global market of up to $25–30 billion.
An operational difficulty with RLT is the short half-life of isotopes, which requires precise production, transportation, and timely administration. To overcome this challenge, Novartis has already built manufacturing facilities in the US, Europe, China, and Japan, and has implemented logistics and GPS-tracking systems enhanced with artificial intelligence.
RNA Interference in Cardiometabolic Diseases
RNA Interference (RNAi) is a therapeutic approach that uses the body’s natural mechanisms to block the expression of specific proteins. A successful example is the siRNA-based drug Inclisiran, which is administered twice a year and significantly lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
The new medication blocks the PCSK9 protein, which increases the number of LDL receptors in the liver, leading to the effective removal of cholesterol from the blood.
Just a few days ago, the V-DIFFERENCE study presented at the 2025 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Madrid showed that 85% of patients’ LDL cholesterol levels returned to the target range within 90 days of starting treatment with Inclisiran. These data point to the drug’s significant role in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.
The platform-based strategy offers medicine many advantages over single-use products. Radioligand therapy provides a tumor-selective radiation effect, while RNA interference ensures a mechanism-based and long-lasting effect in cardiometabolic diseases. Both platforms confirm that the future of medicine may not be based on individual “blockbuster” drugs, but on technological platforms that can be used in multiple areas.
Conclusion
Novartis’s investments in radioligand therapy and RNA interference represent a significant step in the development of modern medicine. The results achieved indicate that platform-based approaches are fundamentally changing the treatment paradigm for complex and high-risk diseases, such as metastatic cancer and cardiovascular diseases. source: How Novartis got ahead on ‘incredible’ cancer breakthrough. (2025, September 2). Financial Times.
Source:
How Novartis got ahead on ‘incredible’ cancer breakthrough. (2025, September 2). Financial Times.
Novartis. (2025, August 30). Novartis Leqvio® shows statistically significant and clinically meaningful early LDL-C goal achievement with less muscle pain [Press release]
