Escalating investment in radiopharmaceuticals is intensifying competition for skilled workers, as companies such as AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Novartis expand their presence in the field. The sector’s rapid growth has increased demand for staff with expertise that bridges biopharma and nuclear science, leading to efforts to strengthen the talent pool ahead of anticipated launches of major new drugs.
Frank Scholz, CEO of NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, explained that demand for employees is outpacing supply because the radiopharma industry is evolving faster than it can develop specialized talent. He pointed to the clinical and commercial success of Novartis’ lutetium-177-based cancer therapies Lutathera and Pluvicto as a driver behind a surge in research activity. Since Pluvicto received FDA approval in 2022, almost 60% of all studies involving lutetium-177 listed on ClinicalTrials.gov have been registered. In addition, more than one-third of all studies involving actinium-225 were registered in 2025.
Scholz noted that building up workforces is complicated by the need for highly specific skills not found elsewhere in biopharma. “You cannot just transfer somebody over who has worked in, say, small molecule operations and put them into running a radioactive hot cell train,” Scholz told BioSpace. “That’s a misconception. The learning curve is very steep.”
Novartis has identified radioligand therapy as an area where attracting and retaining top talent is challenging. AstraZeneca highlighted Fusion Pharmaceuticals’ experienced workforce and its expertise in radioisotope supply and manufacturing when it acquired Fusion for up to $2.4 billion in 2024.
Steve Hahn, CEO of Nucleus RadioPharma, emphasized the need for more radiation biologists to support rational drug design within the industry. These specialists help determine optimal isotopes for various applications and how best to attach radionuclides to targeting molecules while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
“Expertise in putting that together—radiochemistry, process chemistry, etc.—is going to be important in the development of these drugs. There are certainly gaps there,” Hahn said. “There’s a limited amount of experts available in radiochemistry, linker technology, process chemistry, etc.”
Universities are responding by offering training programs such as master’s degrees in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing or Ph.D.s in radiochemistry. Scholz mentioned that educational programs must expand and tailor their training specifically for radiopharmaceuticals if they are to meet growing industry needs.
In the meantime, workers from other sectors—including those with backgrounds in the Navy or energy production—are transitioning into pharma roles within radiopharmaceuticals. Scholz observed that this shift appeals to nuclear experts interested in contributing to cancer treatment advancements but added that real-world experience specific to radiopharmaceuticals remains crucial.
“There are radiochemists, there are nuclear engineers, there are health physicists—all of these people could create a bottleneck if they don’t know how to deal with regulatory,” Scholz said. “We are double regulated, not only by the FDA GMP but also by [the Nuclear Regulatory Commission].”
Industry leaders point out that partnerships with academic institutions can help companies access trained talent more effectively. Hahn described Nucleus’ relationship with Mayo Clinic as “really important because that’s where people train and know about these different processes and approaches.” NorthStar maintains a partnership with University of Wisconsin–Madison aimed at supporting workforce development; students gain access to company-led training opportunities through this collaboration.
Scholz explained NorthStar’s approach: “invested in talent with a lot of lead time” through recruitment and training initiatives while hiring ahead of immediate needs—a strategy he says has protected NorthStar from current labor shortages.
Looking ahead, sector expansion could increase workforce demands further as investments yield new products requiring large-scale operations across supply chains projected to reach significant market value by 2033 (https://www.biospace.com/article/radiopharma-powerhouses-push-frontiers-with-new-indications-innovation/).
“Then we need a different level of talent. That’s coming from schools and internal training at NorthStar and other places,” Scholz said. “It’s about execution. It’s not about figuring out what types of talent we need.”
The competitive environment has also attracted attention from major pharmaceutical firms seeking acquisition opportunities among specialized biotechs (https://www.biospace.com/article/5-radiopharma-biotechs-to-watch-for-potential-buyouts/).
