OnCo
drugsProductApproved2013🇪🇺🇬🇧🇯🇵🇨🇳🇦🇺

Radium-223 dichloride

Radium-223 was the first alpha-emitting drug ever approved (2013). It homes to bone like calcium and treats prostate cancer that has spread only to bone.

ALSYMPCA: OS 14.9 vs 11.3 months in symptomatic bone-predominant mCRPC. ERA 223 showed excess fractures with abiraterone (now contraindicated without bone protection); PEACE III (2024) with enzalutamide plus bone-protecting agents positive for rPFS and OS.

Schematic of the modality · Targeted alpha therapy (bone-seeking) · not a molecule; see the Targeted alpha therapy page
How it works, step by step · animated schematic, not to scale
Targeted alpha therapy
Modality
Targeted alpha therapy (bone-seeking)
Mechanism
Calcium mimetic incorporated into bone matrix at metastases; four alpha emissions per decay chain.
Brand / code
Xofigo
Medicare
Part B (clinician-administered)

Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. HCPCS A9606. Six monthly injections.

Commercial insurance
covered with prior authorisation

Covered under the medical benefit with prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker status and line of therapy; site-of-care policies may steer infusions away from hospital outpatient departments. Symptomatic bone metastases without visceral disease, per the label.

Assistance programmes

20% Part B coinsurance on a high-cost infusion adds up quickly: Medigap Plan G or N, Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket, Medicaid dual eligibility, or a charity fund are the usual buffers.

Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.

NICE recommendedNICE TA412 · 2016SMC: accepted (restricted)
Appraised for
Hormone-relapsed prostate cancer with bone metastases after docetaxel (or not suitable for it)
NHS England
Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)

Sources: NICE TA412 · SMC advice: radium-223 dichloride. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.

Regulatory

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Approvals

RegionYearIndication
US2013Symptomatic bone-metastatic CRPC without visceral disease

Trials

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ClinicalTrials.gov · phase 2/3
refreshed 2026-09-09
51 studies2 recruiting42 Phase 29 Phase 3
Search “Radium-223 dichloride” on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Counts are from a name search and may include unrelated studies; up to 100 studies are summarised.

Recruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)

Recruiting trials near you · live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Radium-223 dichloride
intervention: Radium-223 dichloride
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov →

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Landmark trials in OnCo

Latest papers

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Literature trend16 papers in the last 12 months+14% vs prior 12How this is computed
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Radium-223 dichloride" OR ABSTRACT:"Radium-223 dichloride" OR TITLE:"Xofigo" OR ABSTRACT:"Xofigo") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Radium-223 dichloride, not a curated reading list.

Connected

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