TRIUMF and BWX Technologies, Inc. announced today the execution of a licensing and services agreement that strengthens their existing partnership for the production of medical isotopes. This agreement will enable BWXT Medical to manufacture high-purity actinium-225 (Ac-225) based products for pharmaceutical companies as it continues to build on its medical isotope production operations on the TRIUMF site.
Leveraging existing infrastructure, TRIUMF will irradiate thorium-232 targets for BWXT Medical. From this irradiated thorium, BWXT Medical will process and produce high purity Ac-225, sometimes referred to as non-carrier-added Ac-225, for commercial sale, strengthening BWXT Medical’s position as a leading global manufacturer and supplier of critical medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.
“TRIUMF and BWXT have been producing isotopes at TRIUMF since 1978; our first therapeutic isotope produced at the Vancouver facility was palladium-103 for prostate brachytherapy. This agreement represents a key and complementary initiative to our strategy to increase the supply of Ac-225, commonly known as ‘the rarest drug on earth,’ to researchers and patients around the world,” said Kathryn Hayashi, CEO of TRIUMF Innovations.
Read more in the official press release published today.
Learn more about TRIUMF and actinium-225 with the short documentary, The Rarest Drug, or take a virtual tour of the TRIUMF site on Discover Our Lab.