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Innovative Isotopes Grenoble

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Development and production of emerging radioisotopes for medical applications.

Thanks to its exceptionally intense flow of neutrons, the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) is capable of producing high-quality innovative radioisotopes that are particularly adapted to the current demands of nuclear medicine. When coupled with selective biological vectors, such as peptides or antibodies, these radioisotopes specifically target certain cells (such as cancerous cells), thus reducing side effects while increasing the treatment's effectiveness.

» Description and functionalities

- Quality production in quantities of emerging radioisotopes used in the treatment of metastastic cancers or other illnesses.
- Isotopes of interest: Lutetium-177 (177Lu), Tungsten-188 (188W), Terbium-161 (161Tb), Auger electron transmitters, etc...

» Technology

- Production of radioisotopes via irradiation in a research nuclear reactor that is unique given its high neutron flow (1.5∙1015 n/cm2/s), which is one of the most powerful in the world.
- Planned implementation of an automated hydraulic system to send samples in the irradiation position, and then in a reinforced cell to extract the produced radioisotopes.

» Performances

- Use of the high neutron flow of the ILL.
- Excellent quality (specific activity and purity) of the radioisotopes produced.
- Shelf life and degrowth mode adapted to nuclear medicine.
- Production capacity for thousands of patients per week.

» Market

Each year, radioisotopes are used over 30 million times in diagnostic applications using SPECT and PET methods. The use of radioisotopes in therapeutics still remains low in terms of volume, but is experiencing a high growth rate. Within this particular framework, the quality of the radioisotopes is an essential and decisive criterion.

» Target

Tumors and metastases

» Application areas

- Nuclear medecin:
Oncology: radio-immuno-therapy, peptide receptor radionucleid therapye, bone metastases, skin cancer treatments
Circulatory illnesses: re-stenosis of extremities
- R&D to develop new treatments

» Laboratory

ILL - Institut Max Von Laue-Paul Langevin - réf. 100402-Koester_IIG 22062011

» Collaboration sought

The ILL positions itself upstream in the value chain since the irradiation is the first major stage in this chain. Within the framework of a partnership, the ILL would consider setting up radio-chemical or radio-pharmaceutical laboratories on its site in order to cover the entire value chain down to the final users, I.e. physicians and hospitals.

Interview

The ILL uses a research nuclear reactor supplying the highest flow of neutrons in Europe, and which is one of the top three most intensive sources of neutrons worldwide. Traditionally, the reactor was exclusively used for scientific purposes such as the study of  materials by neutron diffraction or neutronic physics. Given the shortage on the market of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine,  it became clear that the ILL was to play a role in the production of emerging, innovative radioisotopes.

The first stage leading to the success of this project consists in setting up an entirely automated irradiation system on the reactor to ensure the regular production of quality radioisotopes strongly linked to nuclear medicine such as the  Lutetium-177, the Terbium-161 or the Tungsten-188.