Southeast Regional Radiation Oncology Institute Launches 'RI Future Strategy Task Force'... Accelerating Radiopharmaceutical New Drug Development

RI Future Strategy Task Force Team Launched
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The Southeast Regional Radiation Oncology Institute (Director Changhoon Lee) announced that it held the inauguration ceremony for the "RI Future Strategy Task Force Team" at its research center on August 29, 2025, officially launching a collaborative system for next-generation radiopharmaceutical research and development.

This task force team was formed with experts from the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences and the Southeast Regional Radiation Oncology Institute, aiming to develop radiopharmaceuticals that are rapidly emerging in the fields of disease diagnosis and treatment. In particular, since the National RI New Drug Center of the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences recently obtained approval to produce Actinium-225-a key substance attracting attention for the treatment of intractable cancers-the plan is to share this technological achievement and expertise with the Southeast region and pursue joint research.

In the short term, the team will review the current status of existing research and business operations and identify areas for improvement. In the mid- to long-term, by expanding research and development infrastructure, the goal is to reduce the costs and time required for new drug development and establish this initiative as a key project driving the growth of the Southeast Radiation Medical Science Complex.

This task force team consists of a total of 10 experts, including 4 members from the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences-such as the RI Convergence Research Division, New Drug Development Support Division, and RI Infrastructure Application Team-and 6 members from the Southeast Regional Radiation Oncology Institute, including the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radiobiology Research Division, and Radiopharmaceutical Healthcare Team.

The radiopharmaceutical market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the aging population and the increase in chronic diseases, as well as the rise of the diagnostic-therapeutic convergence paradigm known as "theranostics." Accordingly, the demand for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals is also expanding rapidly.

Cheon Inguk, head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Southeast Regional Radiation Oncology Institute, stated, "The 'RI' in the name of this task force stands not only for Radioactive Isotope but also for Radiopharmaceutical Innovation," adding, "We will establish a foundation to lead research, development, and industrialization in the Southeast region."

Director Changhoon Lee emphasized, "The approval for Actinium-225 production by the National RI New Drug Center marks a new turning point in domestic radiopharmaceutical new drug development," and added, "By fostering cooperation between the Seoul metropolitan area and the Southeast region, we will usher in a new era for radiopharmaceutical research and development in Korea."

The Southeast Regional Radiation Medicine Institute is holding the inauguration ceremony for the Radioisotope Future Strategy Task Force Team.