German radiopharmaceutical group ITM Isotopen Technologien München and Canadian isotope supplier Bruce Power have completed a joint feasibility study for the irradiation of ytterbium-176 to produce lutetium-177 (Lu-177).
Ytterbium-176 is the source material for ITM's medical radioisotope no-carrier-added Lu-177 (EndolucinBeta). With the successful completion of the feasibility study, the firms plan to install irradiation equipment at Bruce Power's nuclear facilities in late 2021. The intermediate material generated by Bruce Power will then be processed into high-purity Lu-177 at ITM's global network of radiopharmaceutical production operations.
Lu-177 is a radiopharmaceutical component used in targeted radionuclide therapies to treat a variety of cancers, such as neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer, and bone metastases, the companies said.
