NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes has received and installed a specialized device that can produce a radioactive material used in certain cancer therapies.
The company recently announced the custom-built electron beam accelerator was delivered and installed at its Beloit facility, which will be dedicated to producing the therapeutic radioisotope called actinium-225.
According to a release from NorthStar, this substance is used in clinical studies for targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy, which can destroy cancerous cells with radiation while avoiding healthy cells. While Ac-225 is gaining popularity among medical experts for this type of therapy, current availability is “inadequate” for clinical trials, research and commercial application due to production limitations, the company says.