XTALPi and Jingjiahang Forge Strategic Collaboration to Develop Next-Generation Peptide-Based Radiopharmaceuticals Using AI-Driven PepiX Platform

Jul 25, 2025 18:29 CST Updated 18:29

XtalPi

Computation-Driven Innovative Drug R&D Provider

Recently, XtalPi (2228.HK) Innovation Center announced a deep collaboration with Hangzhou Jingjiahang Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. ("Jingjiahang" for short) to develop novel radiopharmaceuticals driven by AI. XtalPi's Innovation Center will utilize its AI and automation-driven peptide R&D design platform, PepiX, to discover and design new peptide precursors targeting selected tumor cell overexpression sites; Jingjiahang, leveraging its technical expertise in radiopharmaceutical R&D, will be responsible for the design and development of the radiopharmaceuticals. Through the innovative model of "AI + radiopharmaceuticals," both parties will integrate their technological strengths to jointly develop a new generation of peptide radiopharmaceuticals (RDC), aiming to provide more precise and efficient treatment options for cancer patients and break through current bottlenecks in cancer therapy.

The Vast Prospects of RDC and the Potential of Peptide Carriers

Radiopharmaceuticals (RDC, Radionuclide Drug Conjugate), as a key direction in precision oncology treatment, leverage the synergistic effect of "targeted molecules + radionuclides" to achieve precise destruction of tumor cells, offering both diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The global radiopharmaceuticals market is experiencing robust growth. According to the latest report by Verified Market Reports (released in 2025), the global market size for radiopharmaceuticals was approximately $3.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% from 2026 to 2033 [1]. Focusing on China, data from Frost & Sullivan indicates that the domestic radiopharmaceuticals market reached RMB 3 billion in 2021 and surged to RMB 5.4 billion by 2023, with an annual compound growth rate of 21.64% during this period [2]. Given the unique advantages of nuclear medicine in precision treatment and integrated tumor diagnosis and therapy, its market demand continues to grow, attracting large global pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms to accelerate their strategic deployment.

In the development of RDC, peptide molecules, as a clinically validated type of radiopharmaceutical targeting molecule, have gained prominence due to theirHigh selectivity, strong tissue penetration, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibilityThe natural advantages make it an ideal choice for RDC-targeted carriers. Combined with its chemical properties that are easy to modify to meet the requirements of radionuclide labeling, it shows significant potential in clinical applications.

However, the current RDC field still faces key challenges: existing targeting molecules often suffer from insufficient specificity (easily binding to normal cells and causing toxic side effects) and poor radionuclide labeling compatibility (the labeling process damages molecular structure or targeting ability), leading to low efficiency in candidate drug development, high difficulty in clinical translation, and an inability to meet the treatment needs of cancer patients.

Therefore, driven by the vast prospects of the nuclear medicine market and the urgent need for precision treatment, there is an urgent need for innovative molecular discovery strategies to accelerate the screening of next-generation RDC candidate drugs with breakthrough potential.

XtalPi PepiX Platform Solution

XtalPi's AI Peptide Platform PepiX, leveraging its self-developed AI generation algorithms, can rapidly construct and efficiently screen novel peptide ligand molecules suitable for RDC development. The platform integrates AI molecular design with high-throughput wet-lab synthesis and screening validation technologies, supporting various molecular formats such as linear peptides, cyclic peptides, bicyclic peptides, and those containing non-canonical amino acids (NCAA). It not only offers the significant advantages of flexible development and high success rates but also effectively addresses the complex demands in RDC development. Based on AI technology, the platform has successfully built a library of over 2000 structurally diverse, novel, and synthetically accessible NCAA monomers, all of which have been computationally parameterized. By expanding the chemical space for molecular design, it lays a solid foundation for discovering radiopharmaceutical ligand molecules with higher stability and better selectivity. In this collaboration, XtalPi Innovation Center will utilize the PepiX platform to precisely identify and generate a high-specificity peptide molecule library targeting candidate tumor antigens. Combined with high-throughput wet-lab screening for improving drug-like properties and optimization, and using experimental data feedback for efficient molecular design iteration, the platform will rapidly deliver peptide candidate molecules with high affinity, high stability, and excellent radionuclide labeling performance.

Currently, the PepiX platform has successfully empowered the development needs of dozens of different projects, with targets covering complex disordered proteins such as enzymes, hormones, membrane proteins, cytokines, and transcription factors, strongly promoting the research and development of peptide drugs in the fields of cancer, autoimmune diseases, ophthalmology, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to peptide drugs, the platform has also established successful cases in multiple branches such as health product development and cosmetic efficacy ingredient innovation by utilizing its rapid and precise molecular design capabilities. Several projects have quickly reached key milestones or entered the market application stage. Its core AI-driven peptide molecule generation technology, "one-bead-one-compound" chemical combinatorial library screening technology, and trillion-scale mRNA display peptide library screening technology have gained authoritative recognition from customers in China and overseas. This has built a comprehensive peptide R&D platform with high technical barriers and integrated innovative layout, continuously leading the source innovation and commercial transformation in the peptide field.

Powerful Combination

AB-RayBio has deep technical accumulation and extensive experience in the development and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals. It has built a comprehensive platform covering innovative ligand discovery, radiolabeling, quality research, non-clinical evaluation technologies, and rapid clinical translation, enabling efficient transformation from ligand discovery to clinical trials. The company's core team consists of senior experts in the field of radiopharmaceuticals, with unique advantages in radionuclide selection, labeling process optimization, and radiation safety management. Currently, it has 8 ongoing pipelines, among which the JJH002 pipeline has shown excellent data performance by successfully addressing the issue of short drug retention time in tumors. It has entered the IIT stage and is preparing for IND application, with the potential to become the best-in-class. Additionally, AB-RayBio has made significant advancements in the research and development of radiopharmaceuticals using α and β emitters and has established stable channels for the supply of radionuclides used in radiopharmaceutical R&D, laying a solid foundation for future industrialization of radiopharmaceuticals.

XtalPi Innovation Center and AB-RayBio Join Forces to Accelerate Clinical Application of Innovative Peptide Radiopharmaceuticals

Dr. Lai Lipeng, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of XtalPi, said"We are very honored to embark on this collaboration with AB-RayBio. XtalPi's AI peptide discovery platform, combined with AB-RayBio's industrial experience in radiopharmaceuticals, creates a complementary synergy that can jointly accelerate the development of innovative peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals. We look forward to providing more clinical solutions for cancer through this partnership, bringing new hope to more patients."

Dr. Gaoli Mei, founder of AB-RayBio, said"The collaboration with XtalPi will accelerate AB-RayBio's progress in the development of peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals. With the joint efforts of both parties, and by leveraging XtalPi's peptide R&D design platform PepiX as well as AB-RayBio's preclinical and clinical development platforms, we are confident in delivering better and more competitive innovative radiopharmaceutical pipelines."

● CloseYuAB-RayBio ●

AB-RayBio was founded in May 2024 by Dr. Gao Limei, a senior expert in the nuclear medicine industry, and Dr. Lai Jianliang, chairman of Jingye Intelligence who has been deeply involved in the nuclear industry for many years. As an innovative drug company at the clinical research stage, AB-RayBio focuses on the development of novel targeted radiopharmaceuticals. The company has built a core team consisting of industry experts and technical leaders, with extensive experience in radiopharmaceutical research, non-clinical studies, clinical development, radiopharmaceutical registration, radiation safety management, and industrial innovation, providing a solid foundation for the smooth progress of its projects.

[1] Radionuclide Drug Conjugates (RDC) Market Insights. Verified Market Reports.

[2] Analysis of the Demand Level of China's Nuclear Medicine Industry in 2024. Forward Research Institute