NARI's "Ga-68 Dolacga" Liver Function Imaging Agent Wins 2025 R&D 100 Award
Published：2026-06-26 10:56
【Technical introduction】
Core Technology: 3D Functional Assessment via Receptor Targeting
The core of this award-winning technology lies in its targeting of Asialoglycoprotein Receptors (ASGPR) found on liver cell membranes.
• Functional Imaging: ASGPR is responsible for clearing aged glycoproteins from the blood, and its expression level is highly correlated with liver health.
• 3D Evaluation: Unlike traditional structural imaging, Ga-68 Dolacga allows for the precise evaluation of 3D functional liver mass and provides quantitative liver function analysis.
• High Contrast: This high-contrast imaging helps physicians accurately diagnose tumor boundaries and provides reliable clinical data for liver disease patients.
Clinical Breakthroughs: Reducing Surgical Risk and Enhancing Portability
The application of Ga-68 Dolacga has profound implications for liver surgery and cancer treatment strategies:
• Mitigating Liver Failure: By improving the reliability of testing residual liver function, it effectively reduces the risk of post-operative liver failure, helping doctors make optimal medical decisions.
• Lyophilized Kit Innovation: Addressing the challenge of storing radioactive pharmaceuticals, NARI developed a stable and portable "Lyophilized kit". This innovation significantly improves the convenience of drug distribution and clinical use.
International Certification and Current Applications
The technology's success is backed by its adherence to rigorous clinical standards:
• Regulatory Approvals: It received U.S. FDA Phase I & II clinical trial clearance (2018–2020) and multiple TFDA/IRB Phase II trial clearances in Taiwan (2024–2025).
• Ongoing Clinical Use: Currently, it is being applied at National Taiwan University Hospital and Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation and proton therapy for liver cancer.
Global Leadership in Nuclear Medicine
In 2025, Taiwan secured a total of nine R&D 100 Awards. Notably, among many world-renowned national laboratories (such as Oak Ridge and Sandia), NARI is one of the very few units to win for an invention in nuclear medicine/pharmaceuticals. This underscores Taiwan's unique and leading position in the global development of analytical and testing technologies for nuclear medicine
【Future Plan】
NARI plans to initiate Phase III clinical trials in January 2027, focusing on technology transfer and industry-academic collaboration to benefit more patients.
【Contact information】
Name：Mei-Hui Wang
Tel：03-4711400 ext.7162
E-mail：mhwang@nari.org.tw
Name：Ching-Liang Kuo
Tel：03-4711400 ext.7151
E-mail：clkuo@nari.org.tw
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