Radiopharmaceuticals are specific drugs that contain radioactive elements or isotopes in combination with biologically active molecules such as proteins, peptides or other organic compounds. These preparations are used in medicine and nuclear medicine (German: Nuklearmedizin) for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

The most important applications of radiopharmaceuticals (German translation: Radiopharmaka) include:

• Diagnostics: Radiopharmaceuticals are used, usually in the form of radioactively labeled molecules,  in medical diagnostic procedures such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT; translation into German: Einzelphotonen-Emissions-Computertomographie) in order to visualize and examine a patient's internal organs and tissues. These methods help to detect tumors or infections.
• Therapy: Radiopharmaceuticals are also used to treat certain diseases, especially tumors. They can be injected directly into the tissue containing the tumor. The radioactive radiation emitted by the radioisotopes is used to kill malignant cells or inhibit their growth.
• Research: Radiopharmaceuticals can be used in scientific research to investigate biological processes, organ structures and the pharmacokinetics of drugs.

Radiopharmaceuticals are usually developed with regard to their radioactive properties, their effect and their specific interaction with certain targets in the body, so that they can fulfill specific tasks in medical diagnostics and treatment. Their use is regulated by legislation and requires special precautions and equipment for safe use.

As pharmaceutical interpreters, we are happy to assist you with GMP inspections at your pharmaceutical company and ensure flawless communication. We are also your go-to contact when you need large volumes of pharmaceutical documents to be translated.