Radiopharm inks ANSTO deal for cancer-fighting agent

Radiopharm Theranostics has reached an agreement with Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, or “ANSTO” for the supply of a vital ingredient required for its fight against cancer.

The ingredient is a short-lived radioactive isotope called non-carrier-added lutetium-177, or “Lu-177”, that has powerful properties for treating certain cancers.

The Melbourne-based medical technology company plans to use it in combination with a proprietary nanobody for a phase I therapeutic trial of patients with lung cancer.

The supply deal with ANSTO is effective from 1 December 2022 and the trial, in collaboration with GenesisCare and ANSTO, is scheduled to start in Q1 of next year.

Radiopharm Theranostics CEO and Managing Director, Riccardo Canevari said: “ANSTO is one of Australia’s largest public research organisations and is widely recognised as an international leader in the field of nuclear science and technology.”

“Partnering with ANSTO for the supply of lutetium-177 is an important step as we move forward on our trials in Australia.”

ANSTO CEO Shaun Jenkinson says his organisation is committed to working to save lives and improve health through technologies for diagnostic, therapeutic and innovative treatments.

Radiopharm is developing a pipeline of radiopharmaceutical products for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic uses. Traditionally, radiation treatment is delivered in broad beams from outside the body in order to kill cancer cells.

Radiopharmaceuticals is an emerging branch of cancer therapy that involves attaching low-dose radiation isotopes to nanobodies and transmitting them inside the body direct to tumours.

When they find the cancer cells, they adhere to them, before breaking down and releasing energy that kills the cells.

Lutetium-177 is called a beta isotope because it emits beta particles. Alpha isotopes are also needed to kill cancer cells and earlier this year Radiopharm inked a deal with an American supplier for alpha isotopes.

The alpha isotope is regarded as more potent and more appropriate for some smaller tumours. Beta’s potency is lower, however is the right isotope for some larger tumour types.

Canevari has previously estimated that Radiopharm’s clinical pipeline of assets require an even split of alpha and beta isotopes. Isotopes have been in short supply due to high demand and because they only have a short lifespan companies like Radiopharm need to secure reliable, high-quality supplies.

Last month, the company reached agreement with a US firm for radioactive isotope Actinium-225, also known as Ac-225. Earlier this year, Radiopharm inked two deals for Lu-177 with an American and an Israeli supplier.

ANSTO is a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government that was born out of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. It operates Australia’s only nuclear reactor, called OPAL, in Lucas Heights, Sydney.

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