ITM and CNL as industry leaders

ITM and CNL have over 100 years accumulative experience in the fields of nuclear science, radiochemistry and radiopharmacy.

ITM is a radiopharmaceutical developer and a world-leader in Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu) production and supply, thus offering a diverse portfolio of transferable expertise. CNL is a pioneer in the development of nuclear science and technology, in addition to bringing decades long experience in the field of isotope production, being one of only four Actinium-225 (²²⁵Ac) suppliers currently active today. Actineer is focused on a set of highly complementary respective attributes, covering all key activities of a robust ²²⁵Ac production and supply value chain, positioning Actineer for success.

The production of ²²⁵Ac will play a critical role in targeted alpha therapy for cancer treatment due to the potent decay chain of ²²⁵Ac. The rising global demand for ²²⁵Ac has led to the development of various production methods, including accelerator-based techniques and radionuclide generators.

Thorium-229 Radionuclide Generator

A Thorium-229 (²²⁹Th)/²²⁵Ac radionuclide generator allows the separation of ²²⁵Ac from the ²²⁹Th starting material and other radioactive products, by a series of separation and extraction chromatography steps.

The ²²⁹Th radionuclide generator is capable of producing high-quality ²²⁵Ac but has limitations in the frequency in which ²²⁵Ac can be produced in sufficiently large quantities.

Thorium-232 Spallation via Proton Irradiation

High-energy proton irradiation of Thorium-232 (²³²Th) targets is capable of producing large quantities of ²²⁵Ac. This approach focuses on the spallation of ²³²Th which produces ²²⁵Ac alongside many other by-products.

This route produces Actinium-227 (²²⁷Ac) in addition to ²²⁵Ac which cannot be separated from one another in a suitable time-frame and quantities. ²²⁷Ac is a concerning radioactive by-product due to its long half-life and hazardous decay chain.

It is feasible to produce a Radium-225 (²²⁵Ra)/²²⁵Ac generator from this production route, which can avoid the contamination of the ²²⁵Ac product with ²²⁷Ac, but at significantly reduced ²²⁵Ac quantities.

Radium-226 Gamma Irradiation

The irradiation of Radium-226 (²²⁶Ra) with high-energy gamma radiation can produce ²²⁵Ac indirectly. The irradiation of ²²⁶Ra produces ²²⁵Ra through a photonuclear reaction which subsequently decays to ²²⁵Ac.

The ²²⁶Ra gamma irradiation route offers theoretical benefits, such as potentially large quantities of ²²⁵Ac in high-quality but proof-of-principle demonstrations of large ²²⁵Ac quantities successfully produced are missing.

Radium-226 Proton Irradiation

The irradiation of ²²⁶Ra with medium-energy protons can produce ²²⁵Ac directly. The irradiation of ²²⁶Ra with medium-energy protons has a high cross-section, meaning this reaction has a high probability of occurring, allowing for large quantities to be produced.

Large ²²⁵Ac quantities can be produced from this method in high-quality, suitable for medical applications, and has been previously successfully demonstrated.

Actineer’s Approach to Industry Excellence

At Actineer, we have strategically chosen a production methodology that not only ensures safety but also positions us for remarkable scalability. Our commitment extends beyond ecological responsibility; it’s about achieving peak industry performance, securing a reliable supply chain and ensuring patient safety.

Our approach sets a benchmark for safety protocols, preventing the formation of long-lived radioisotopes like Actinium-227. But equally important, it equips us for efficient manufacturing scaling. By leveraging state-of-the-art processes, we’re ready to meet growing demands without compromising safety.

Our closed-loop recycling process begins with recovering the raw material essential for Actinium-225 irradiation, Radium-226. This scarce material undergoes meticulous purification and refinement. By reintroducing recycled material into our production cycle, we minimize waste and enhance overall irradiation capacity.

In summary, Actineer’s approach combines safe production, excellent scalability, and raw material recycling to set a new benchmark for the production of Actinium-225.