Bill Gates-backed radiopharma company donates critical isotopes
TerraPower Isotopes has committed to donating critical radioisotopes to the Oncidium foundation to help expand access to targeted radionuclide therapy for cancer patients.
The Bill Gates-backed, Washington-based company announced Wednesday it would be supporting Oncidium's RLT-Connect program by donating actinium-2251 (Ac-225), which is a critical radioisotope frequently used in targeted alpha therapy cancer treatments. It is currently being used in multiple clinical trials evaluating additional targeted alpha therapies, which pair Ac-225 with tumor-targeting molecules to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue.
Oncidium's RLT-Connect program connects radioisotope suppliers, healthcare providers and radiopharmacies to provide radioligand therapy to patients facing financial challenges. TPI’s support comes just months after it broke ground on what is set to be the world’s largest manufacturing site of Ac-225. Located in the Bellwether District of Philadelphia, the facility is will increase global production capacity of the radioisotope twentyfold.
"TPI's collaboration with the Oncidium foundation gets right to the heart of why we do this work," Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes, said in an announcement. "Producing actinium-225 at scale means nothing if it doesn't reach the patients who need it most. TPI has created a reliable logistics channel; we're shipping weekly, and we're proud to be part of a chain that provides lifesaving treatment to patients who would otherwise have none."
“Access to radioligand therapy should never depend on where a patient happens to live,” added Rebecca Lo bue, CEO of the Oncidium foundation. “TerraPower Isotopes' decision to donate actinium-225 is a meaningful step towards closing that gap, and we are grateful for their commitment. Together we can bring these treatments within reach of many more patients around the world.”
TPI noted that it has established a reliable supply chain for Ac-225 and is shipping the isotope weekly to drug developers and researchers worldwide. This new partnership will build on that work and expand access to treatments many patients would otherwise be unable to receive.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.