Radiopharm Theranostics Ltd (ASX:RAD) has secured a second supply of Actinium-225 from NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC for use in drug trials involving targeted alpha therapy in multiple disease areas.
The supply agreement follows a deal with the Bill Gates-founded nuclear innovation company TerraPower to collaborate on Actinium-225, announced in February this year.
“It remains a priority for us to secure these key supply agreements, which allow us to continue with our clinical development unimpeded,” RAD chief executive officer and managing director Riccardo Canevari said.
“We are fortunate to lock in another outstanding partner such as NorthStar, who has proven itself as a reliable, high-quality supplier of medical radioisotopes.
Commercial supplier
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes chief executive officer Stephen Merrick added: “NorthStar is recognised as an emerging leader for the production of n.c.a. Actinium-225, and we have recently stated our intention to become the first commercial-scale supplier in the market.
“We look forward to applying our state-of-the-art production technology to bring n.c.a. Actinium-225 to the team at Radiopharm Theranostics, with the aim of together making a difference, to develop revolutionary, environmentally preferable therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals that have enormous potential to benefit patients with serious disease.”
The supply agreement is for an initial period of 10 years and may be extended. First shipment is expected in the first half of 2024.
Nuclear medicine company
NorthStar manufactures and distributes diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.
The company is the sole domestic producer of the diagnostic imaging radioisotope molybdenum-99. Mo-99 is used to generate technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the standard of care in diagnostic imaging to assess the extent and severity of heart disease and cancer.
Its unique Mo-99 production process is non-uranium based and environmentally friendly.
Using first-in-kind and environmentally-sound electron accelerator technology, NorthStar is poised to be the first commercial-scale producer of therapeutic radioisotopes actinium-225 (Ac-225) and copper-67 (Cu-67), which are used in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy to treat cancer, respiratory and other diseases.
About RAD
RAD is a clinical-stage radiotherapeutics company developing a world-class platform of innovative radiopharmaceutical products for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in areas of high unmet medical need.
The company listed late last year and boasts a pipeline of four distinct and highly differentiated platform technologies spanning peptides, small molecules and monoclonal antibodies for use in cancer.
Actinium-225 is an alpha-emitting radionuclide with significant promise in effectively treating cancer patients. It can be attached to a targeting molecule, which will then selectively target and destroy cancerous tissue.
The costs associated with the purchase of Actinium-225 will be met from existing funds.