Norway’s groundbreaking role in alpha therapy and radiopharmaceuticals
Page date: published 11 September 2025; updated 3 June 2026; 7 min read (as rendered).
The article traces Xofigo (radium-223) to Norwegian researchers Roy Larsen and Øyvind Bruland and their company Algeta. It says clinical trials began in 2001, commercial launch occurred in 2013, and Bayer acquired Algeta in 2014. The page describes Xofigo as a targeted alpha therapy for prostate cancer that has spread to bone and reports more than 110,000 patients treated. These historical and treatment claims are attributed to the source, not medical advice.
The article describes production moving from the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) to its spin-off Agilera in 2023. It says Agilera produced over 500,000 commercial doses and that production is now divided between Norwegian and US facilities. It also describes radiopharmaceutical distribution challenges due to radioactive decay and short shelf life, citing 28 days for Xofigo. Bayer is reported to have invested almost NOK 4 billion in Norway since 2014 and to employ around 150 people there.
The Oslo-area ecosystem listed includes the University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, the Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Life Science Cluster and Oslo Science City. Company examples include clinical-stage ARTBIO and Oncoinvent, preclinical Node Pharma, Thor Medical’s alpha-emitter production plans and the Norwegian Medical Cyclotron Centre. Agilera’s acquisition by PharmaLogic is noted, with the page saying its Norwegian operations would continue. Bayer’s actinium-225 product platform and ongoing clinical studies are also mentioned. Company status and trial phases can change; verify directly with the organisations.
Contact: Rasmus Malmborg, Investment Manager, Health and life science, Oslo; rasmus.malmborg@innovasjonnorge.no (phone available through the page’s reveal control). Related link: Health and life science.