Medical Isotopes - Advancing new Frontiers in Healthcare
At ASP Isotopes Inc.
We specialize in the production of stable isotopes that are at the forefront of technological advances in the nuclear medicine sector.
Our stable isotopes play a crucial role in the production of radioisotopes, which are pivotal in modern nuclear medicine. These radioisotopes are used in a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including cardiological conditions, cancer, neurological disorders etc.
In October 2023 ASPI entered a strategic relationship with PET Labs Pharmaceuticals for the distribution of medical isotopes. PET Labs is a South African radiopharmaceutical operations company dedicated to nuclear medicine and the science of radiopharmaceutical production. PET Labs is a leader in the production of fluorinated radioisotopes and active pharmaceutical ingredients in sub-Saharan Africa.
products of interest
Stable isotopes
Short half-life radioisotopes
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End Market
Pharmacokinetic Tracing
SPECT Scan Imaging
PET Scan Imaging
Oncology Treatment
Neuroendocrine Tumors NETs
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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Prostate Cancer, NETs
Timelines
| Isotopes | End-Market | R&D Stage | R&D Evaluation | Under Construction | Anticipated Market Entry | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon-14 | Pharma & Agrochem | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2024 | ASP |
| Molybdenum-100 | Nuclear Medicine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2024 | ASP |
| Molybdenum-98 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2024 | ASP | |
| Ytterbium-176 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2025 | QE | |
| Zinc-67/68 | ✓ | -- | -- | 2025 | ASP | |
| Nickel-64 | ✓ | -- | -- | TBD | QE | |
| Xenon-129/136 | ✓ | -- | -- | TBD | ASP |
Molybdenum-100
Molybdenum-100 (Mo-100) is a stable isotope of molybdenum, essential in the production of the medical radioisotope Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), widely used in diagnostic imaging (SPECT Scan Imaging).
Tc-99m is the most widely used imaging agent globally due to its versatility. The molecule is used in approximately 80% of nuclear diagnostic imaging procedures, or about 40,000 medical procedures in the United States every day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Tc-99m is currently sourced from the radiological decay of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) which is primarily produced in nuclear reactors through the fission of Uranium-235 (U-235) targets. Mo-99 is not a stable isotope and has a half-life of 66 hours. This leads to several supply chain challenges for radio pharmacies around the world:
SPECT Scan Imaging
Enrichment Technology: ASP
supply chain challenges
Producers of Molybdenum-99 are few and widespread
Molybdenum-99 is usually created commercially by the fission of highly enriched uranium in a small number of research and material testing nuclear reactors in several countries.
Molybdenum-99 has a short half-life
Molybdenum-99 has a half-life of just 66 hours adding to the supply side challenge. The activity of Mo-99 declines by about 1% per hour because of radioactive decay. It must be moved through the supply chain quickly to minimize decay losses.
Security of supply under constant strain
Security of the supply of both Mo-99 and Tc-99, being time critical, is under constant strain, often due to interruption or breakdown of this supply chain with serious implications for hospitals and their patients.
Current reactors are aging
Many of the reactors that currently produce Mo-99 are over 50 years old and risk being shut down over the next 10 – 20 years.
New process
We can apply our proprietary Aerodynamic Separation Process (ASP) to produce the stable isotope Mo-100, which would result in a more efficient supply chain with lower shipping costs.
Current isotope conversion process
Half-Life: 66 Hours
Half-Life: 6 Hours
ASP isotope conversion process
STABLE
Half-Life: 6 Hours
Mo-100 is stable, does not decay and can therefore be stored indefinitely, removing much of the current supply side issues. The process of producing Mo-100 with the ASP technology does not create nuclear waste and is therefore more environmentally friendly than the traditional uranium fission method for generating Mo-99.
- Simplified Logistics
- Environmentally Friendly
- Reliable Supply
- Lower Shipping Cost
Highly enriched Mo-100 can be converted into Tc-99m either using a Cyclotron or a Linear Accelerator (LINAC). Mo-100 is stable, does not decay and can therefore be stored indefinitely, removing much of the current supply side issues.
Cyclotrons are available in large hospitals or radio-pharmacies. The stable Mo-100 isotope is bombarded by hydrogen nuclei (a single proton). Tc-99m and two neutrons are released.
Ytterbium-176
Ytterbium-176 (Yb-176) is a stable isotope that provides a superior route to obtaining Lutetium-177 (Lu-177). The traditional route, beginning with Lu-176 requires separating its products, Lu -177and Lu-177m, which is both difficult and carries a long half-life.
The supply chain for Yb-176 has been particularly challenged with recent industry reports highlighting over two months treatment delay due to lack of drug availability. Our QE technology is expected to allow the production of sufficient quantity of this critical isotope to meet demand requirements.
Lu-177 is an emerging beta emitting radiopharmaceutical used in oncology drugs such as Novartis’ Pluvicto. It is particularly valuable due to its favorable decay properties (half-life of approximately 6.7 days, providing a balance between effective treatment duration and manageable radiation safety concerns) and its ability to deliver therapeutic radiation directly to cancer cells (targeted therapy). Lu-177 emits beta particles, which have a therapeutic effect by damaging the DNA of targeted cancer cells, leading to cell death. It also emits gamma radiation, which can be detected by imaging equipment, allowing for precise monitoring of the isotope’s distribution within the body.
- Simplified Logistics
- Environmentally Friendly
- Reliable Supply
- Lower Shipping Cost
Key uses of Lu-177
Targeted Cancer Therapy
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs): Lu-177 is commonly used in the treatment of NETs, delivering targeted radiation therapy to these tumors.
Prostate Cancer: Lu-177-PSMA (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen) therapy is a promising treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. The radiolabeled molecule targets PSMA, a protein highly expressed on prostate cancer cells, allowing for precise delivery of radiation to the cancerous cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Combination Therapy
Lu-177 can be used in combination with other therapies, such as chemotherapy or external beam radiation therapy, to enhance the overall treatment efficacy for certain cancers.
Theranostics
Lu-177 plays a crucial role in theranostics, a field that combines therapy and diagnostics. It allows for the simultaneous treatment of tumors and monitoring of treatment response. The diagnostic component often involves imaging the distribution of Lu-177 labeled compounds in the body to ensure accurate targeting before delivering the therapeutic dose.
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
Prostate Cancer
Enrichment Technology: QE
Zinc-68
Zinc-68 (Zn-68) is a stable isotope of zinc, primarily used in medical applications for the production of Gallium-68 (Ga-68) and Copper-67 (Cu-67).
Ga-68 is a radioisotope used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and theranostics. It is the key diagnostic for most lutetium and actinium-based drugs in development.
Ga-68 is currently produced in Ge-68 / Ga-68 generators using liquid targets, which is highly inefficient, expensive to scale and unlikely to meet the expected increase in market demand. In contrast, Zn-68 obtained using the ASP technology can be used to efficiently produce larger quantities of Ga-68 in a cyclotron.
Cu-67 is used in cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy and diagnostic imaging.
PET Scan Imaging
Cancer Therapy
Enrichment Technology: ASP
Carbon-14
Carbon-14 (C-14) is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years.
C-14 is used for medical tracing in the healthcare industry. Medical tracing is a scientific technique used to track the passage of a molecule. The technique incorporates a radioisotope through a reaction, cell, organism, biological system, or metabolic pathway.
C-14 is used as a radiolabeling compound due to its relatively harmless emission of alpha particles, and long-lasting half-life, which allows researchers to track drug molecules throughout the body.
The supply of C-14 is unreliable and has been severely disrupted since the start of 2022. ASPI’s C-14 production facility in South Africa has the capacity to meet total global demand for that isotope.
Pharmacokinetic Tracing
Enrichment Technology: ASP
Nickel-64
Nickel-64 (Ni-64) is a stable isotope of nickel which is mainly used as a precursor in the production of Cu-64.
Ni-64 is currently produced via gas centrifugation or in nuclear reactors. ASPI’s QE technology will allow for more cost-efficient production that can be scaled easily to meet the expected increase in demand for Ni-64 in the near future.
Cu-64 is a radioisotope of copper with a dual capability of imaging and therapy. It has a half-life of approximately 12.7 hours.
Key uses of Cu-64:
Pet Imaging
Cu-64 is used as a radiotracer in PET scans to visualize and diagnose various diseases, including cancer, by highlighting metabolic activity and abnormalities in tissues.
Theranostics
Cu-64 is valuable in theranostic applications, combining therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in a single agent. It allows for targeted imaging and treatment of certain cancers, providing a personalized approach to patient care.
Radiotherapy
Cu-64 can be used in targeted radiotherapy to deliver localized radiation to cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
PET Scan Imaging
Cancer Therapy
Enrichment Technology: QE