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NNM and INL Sign Agreements on Cancer Treatment Technology
Medical Actinium for Therapeutic Treatment (MATT)
Wednesday, June 21,2006
This news release is from NorthStar Nuclear Medicine and the
Idaho National Laboratory on the signing of two agreements on a major new
technology to produce the extremely valuable medical isotope, actinium-225, for
use in cancer research and treatment. Below are live presentations from George
P. Messina, President and CEO of NorthStar Nuclear Medicine and James A. Lake,
Associate Laboratory Director of Idaho National Laboratory. The news release,
presentations from Messina and Lake, additional technology videos and local
media coverage is available below for review.
Media Contact: Keith Arterburn, 208-526-4845,
keith.arterburn@inl.gov
Glenn H. Isensee, NorthStar Nuclear Medicine, Inc. 608-658-2776,
gisensee@northstarnm.com
NorthStar Nuclear Medicine, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho
National Laboratory have signed two agreements on a major new technology to
produce the extremely valuable medical isotope, actinium-225, for use in cancer
research and treatment. The agreements open the door to another source of a
medical isotope that can be used in a cancer treatment regimen that offers many
advantages over traditional treatment approaches.
A patented invention that has been nominated for R&D magazine’s top 100
technologies during 2006, the Medical Actinium for Therapeutic Treatment (called
MATT) involves separations processes that recover actinium-225 from unused
nuclear fuel. This technology is expected to increase the world production of
the medical isotope, enabling important clinical cancer treatment trials to
proceed.
Actinium-225 can be used effectively in alpha-immunotherapy treatments, which
combine an alpha particle-emitting radionuclide that is carried by a targeting
agent such as monoclonal antibodies. The targeting agent seeks out and
selectively attaches to cancer cells. The radioisotope then kills the targeted
cancer cells, while minimizing collateral damage to surrounding normal cells.
This treatment regimen offers many key advantages over external radiation
exposure and chemotherapy.
“This contribution to medical isotope production demonstrates the breadth of
research by INL scientists, while underscoring our dedication to the peaceful
uses of nuclear materials,” said Jim Lake, INL Associate Laboratory Director for
Nuclear Programs.
The agreements between INL and NorthStar include a license for the company to
use the MATT technology, and a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA)
supporting further development of the technology. The license authorizes
NorthStar the exclusive right to use the technology for the life of the patents
in exchange for fees and annual royalty payments to the laboratory. The CRADA
is an agreement under which NorthStar provides INL funding to develop MATT
during the initial planning stage for designing and building a pilot plant to
recover the medical isotope.
“We are pleased with the partnership that has developed between NorthStar and
Idaho National Laboratory in bringing valuable radioisotopes to medical
professionals and patients in the battle against cancer,” said NorthStar’s
President and CEO George Messina. “This agreement and partnership is a major
step in achieving our goal of enabling the future of nuclear medicine.”
The Department of Energy is currently providing actinium-225 to researchers from
its Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. If INL and NorthStar are
successful in further developing their technology, it would supplement this
limited supply.
The INL team of inventors included David H. Meikrantz, Terry A. Todd, Troy J.
Tranter, Leroy Lewis, and Joseph Henscheid, along with PG Research Foundation
Director, E. Philip Horwitz. “It is very gratifying to know that the research
we did together may well help others conquer cancer and save lives,” said Todd.
In inventing this technology, INL researchers took advantage of the fact the INL
has significant sources of actinium-225 in the 14 metric tons of 30-year old
unused nuclear fuel. This fuel was originally created to use in a breeder
reactor, a research program that was discontinued in the early 1970s.
- INL – 06-024
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For More Information Contact:
NorthStar Nuclear Medicine
Glenn H. Isensee
One Parker Place, Ste 710 Janesville, WI 53545
Tel: 608-756-1710
FAX: 608-756-8506
Internet:
gisensee@northstarnm.com
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