Business Of Biotech Radiotherapeutics For CNS Cancers With Plus Therapeutics' Marc Hedrick, M.D.
Mar 16, 2026
Marc Hedrick, M.D., a surgeon-turned-biotech CEO leading Plus Therapeutics. He explains the company pivot to radiotherapeutics for brain cancers. He discusses why Rhenium-186 and Reyobiq were chosen, liposomal delivery and tumor retention, supply chain advantages, and the acquisition of CNSide diagnostics to improve CNS cancer detection and monitoring.
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Why Rhenium-186 Suits Central Nervous System Tumors
- Rhenium-186's physics, chemistry, and half-life fit CNS indications and combined with formulation and delivery yields a high therapeutic index.
- Hedrick notes Rayobic can deliver >10x the absorbed dose compared with external beam while showing low systemic toxicity.
Formulation And Delivery Are As Crucial As The Isotope
- The therapeutic effect depends on isotope physics, liposomal formulation that retains drug in tumor, and direct delivery past the blood-brain barrier.
- Hedrick emphasized all three components are designed together to maximize tumor dwell-time and minimize systemic exposure.
Long Half Life Enables Centralized Supply And Patient Dosimetry
- Rhenium-186's 90-hour half-life and gamma emission allow centralized manufacturing, shipping flexibility, and imaging to measure per-patient absorbed dose.
- Hedrick highlighted that each patient becomes their own dosimetry trial via SPECT/CT imaging of gamma emission.