Bill Gates-backed company breaks ground on 'world's most advanced' isotope production facility
A nuclear solutions development company out of Washington broke ground today on what is set to be the world’s largest manufacturer of actinium-225 (Ac-225).
TerraPower Isotopes, which was founded by tech billionaire Bill Gates, announced Thursday that construction on its 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in the Bellwether District of Philadelphia is officially underway. The $450 million project is set to significantly ramp up production of Ac-225, which is a critical radioisotope frequently used in targeted alpha therapy cancer treatments. Leaders involved in the new facility’s development estimate it will increase global Ac-225 production capacity twentyfold.
"TerraPower was created to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Breaking ground today on the Bellwether Laboratory represents a defining chapter in TerraPower's history—and in the history of actinium-225 manufacturing," Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, said in an announcement. "This new flagship, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will produce actinium-225 at a scale the industry has never seen before, providing global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with the reliable, large-volume supply they need to advance their clinical programs and ultimately expand cancer treatment options for patients."
The Philly location was chosen out of 350 other potential sites. It ultimately won out over others due to its established pharmaceutical footprint and proximity to numerous prestigious healthcare organizations and academic institutions. The project also is supported by state officials; the facility is expected to create 225 full-time jobs and another 500 construction jobs during the building process.
"Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for—and winning—major innovation projects, and today's groundbreaking with TerraPower Isotopes is proof of that," Rick Siger, secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, said in the same announcement. "Our strategic $10 million grant helped to secure more than $450 million in private investment that will create hundreds of high-quality jobs, further positioning Pennsylvania as a national and global leader in life sciences."
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.