Ionetix begins routine supply of astatine-211 in North America, expanding sources of isotopes for targeted alpha therapy

Ionetix, a U.S. medical isotope producer, recently announced that it has begun routine supply of astatine-211 (At-211) in North America. The company stated that this development expands the supply sources of At-211 and is expected to support its further application in preclinical research and clinical development. Ionetix noted that it believes it is the first non-academic commercial supplier of At-211 in the United States.

Ionetix produces At-211 at its facility in Lansing, Michigan, leveraging its proprietary cyclotron technology. The company currently operates a 30 MeV cyclotron equipped with optimized target technology, aiming to support the production of clinical-grade At-211. The company stated that its production capacity and distribution model are primarily designed around the relatively short half-life of At-211, helping drug development organizations advance At-211-based therapeutic agents into the clinical stage.

David Eve, Ionetix's Chief Business Development Officer, stated that the company aims to address the supply challenges posed by the short half-life of this isotope through its At-211 production and distribution system, and to support the eventual delivery of related therapies to patients. He also noted that this development builds on the company's experience with its alpha isotope cyclotron production platform, including the current supply of actinium-225 (Ac-225) to customers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

At-211 is typically produced by irradiating bismuth-209 (Bi-209) targets with alpha particles in a cyclotron, with a half-life of approximately 7.2 hours. As an alpha-emitting isotope, At-211 can release high-energy radiation over an extremely short range, targeting cancer cells while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy tissue. Due to this property, At-211 is gaining attention in the field of targeted alpha therapy drug development.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Ionetix produces medical isotopes using proprietary cyclotron and accelerator technologies, with products used in diagnostic imaging and targeted alpha therapy. In the diagnostic field, the company produces PET radiopharmaceuticals through its network of FDA-approved production sites located near points of care; in the therapeutic field, the company focuses on producing high-purity alpha-emitting therapeutic isotopes, including Ac-225 and At-211.