The 250,000-square-foot (23,226-square-metre) Bellwether Laboratory, combined with capacity expansion at its laboratory in Everett, Washington, will increase global actinium-225 (Ac-225) production capacity twentyfold, TerraPower Isotopes (TPI) said. This, it said, will position TPI “as the premier global distributor of Ac-225 and directly addressing a critical supply constraint that has limited the advancement of targeted alpha therapies for cancer treatment”.
Ac-225 is a short-lived alpha-emitting isotope that can be used in a form of treatment known as targeted alpha therapy. This therapy, in which a molecule such as a monoclonal antibody is combined with an alpha emitter such as Ac-225, has the potential to treat a variety of cancers, targeting solid tumours, metastases, and systemic cancers such as leukaemia. However, the scarcity of Ac-225 – sometimes described as one of the world’s rarest radioisotopes – is limiting its development and therapeutic use.
How the compoleted facility could look (Image: TerraPower)
TPI said it selected Philadelphia and ultimately the Bellwether District following a rigorous nationwide site evaluation process that included more than 350 potential locations and 49 site visits across eight metropolitan areas. “Philadelphia emerged as the clear choice due to its strong pharmaceutical footprint, distinguished healthcare leadership, unparalleled access to top talent and academic institutions, and an exceptionally supportive city and state,” the company said.
“TerraPower was created to improve the world through nuclear energy and science,” said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. “Breaking ground today on the Bellwether Laboratory represents a defining chapter in TerraPower’s history – and in the history of actinium-225 manufacturing. 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 programmes and ultimately expand cancer treatment options for patients.”
Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes, added: “Today, TerraPower Isotopes celebrates breaking ground on the world’s most advanced actinium-225 manufacturing site. The Bellwether Laboratory is purpose-built to meet the needs of a growing industry that is working to transform how cancer is treated. With a highly trained and dedicated team, we are thrilled to be building our flagship facility right here in Philadelphia.”
