Practical considerations for navigating the regulatory landscape of non-clinical studies for clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals

Background The development of radiopharmaceuticals requires extensive evaluation before they can be applied in a diagnostic or therapeutic setting in Nuclear Medicine. Chemical, radiochemical, and pharmaceutical parameters must be established and verified to ensure the quality of these novel products. Main body To provide supportive evidence for the expected human in vivo behaviour, particularly related to safety and efficacy, additional tests, often referred to as “non-clinical” or “preclinical” are mandatory. This document is an outcome of a Technical Meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It summarises the considerations necessary for non-clinical studies to accommodate the regulatory requirements for clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals. These considerations include non-clinical pharmacology, radiation exposure and effects, toxicological studies, pharmacokinetic modelling, and imaging studies. Additionally, standardisation of different specific clinical applications is discussed. Conclusion This document is intended as a guide for radiopharmaceutical scientists, Nuclear Medicine specialists, and regulatory professionals to bring innovative diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals into the clinical evaluation process in a safe and effective way.