Radiopharmaceuticals developer, POINT Biopharma Global (NASDAQ:PNT), and Kinectrics entered into a long-term supply agreement for Ytterbium-176 (Yb-176) to support POINT’s in-house no-carrier added Lutetium-177 (n.c.a. Lu-177) production program.
Radiopharmaceuticals that use modern medical isotopes like Lu-177 are much easier for patients to access, as they can be administered outside of hospitals without an overnight stay. Whenever POINT uses Lu-177 in a program, only n.c.a. Lu-177 is utilized.
The input material for creating n.c.a. Lu-177 is Yb-176, a stable isotope precursor that is irradiated in nuclear reactors, producing Lu-177 through neutron activation. Currently, the production of all n.c.a. Lu-177 depends on a complex and very limited global supply chain.
Kinectrics is a service provider to the nuclear power and electricity industry.
Under the accord with Kinectrics, POINT is laying the groundwork to access large quantities of highly enriched Yb-176, creating the world’s first, stable North American supply of n.c.a. Lu-177, and establishing POINT as a provider of high-quality radiopharmaceuticals.
“Ensuring a secure, redundant and consistent isotope supply is a cornerstone of POINT’s radiopharmaceutical platform,” Dr. Joe McCann, CEO of POINT, said in a statement.
“Our integrated Lu-177 isotope supply chain is a rarity in the industry, allowing us to advance our pipeline and positions us as a future leader in the commercial supply of these treatments,” he added.
David Harris, CEO of Kinectrics, said creating a North American supply of Yb-176 is critical to safeguard the supply-chain for Lu-177.
“Kinectrics is uniquely positioned to apply our international capabilities in engineering, physics, and chemistry to develop state-of-the-art stable isotope enrichment technologies,” he added.
