IBA and SCK CEN join forces to enable production of Actinium-225
Collaboration marks first step in
evaluating the potential of the rapidly growing theranostics
market
Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, 15 September
2021 – IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the
world leader in particle accelerator technology, and SCK CEN
(Belgian Nuclear Research Center) today announce a strategic
R&D partnership to enable the production of Actinimum-225
(225Ac), a novel radioisotope which has significant potential in
the treatment of cancer.
New perspectives in the treatment of
cancerNuclear medicine has evolved considerably over
recent years with the emergence of radiotheranostics, a modality
which combines targeted diagnosis and therapy with radio-isotopes,
offering an important alternative in the treatment of many cancers.
Radiotheranostics is based on the use of radio-isotopes which, when
they disintegrate, emit radiation that enables cancer cells to be
precisely located and/or destroyed.
Actinium-225: fighting both prevalent
and rare cancersAmong these isotopes, one of the most
promising is alpha-emitting Actinium-225. This is due to its useful
characteristics: in its decay, it kills cancer cells, having high
cytotoxic potency within a very short range (limited to few
cancerous cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues).
Moreover its half-life (10 days) enables a smooth process for
logistics and centralized distribution. To date, extensive research
and numerous studies are underway which aim to tackle both high
prevalence cancers including prostate, lung, colon, breast,
pancreatic, blood (leukemia and other rare forms) and kidney
cancers, but also rarer forms of cancer like glioblastoma, the
deadliest form of a very invasive brain cancer.
One of the main challenges to making this
therapeutic solution accessible for the greatest number of patients
is ensuring the availability of high-quality Actinium-225 in large
quantities. By joining their unique expertise and resources, SCK
CEN and IBA will be able to work towards the large-scale production
of Actinium-225 for patient use. Concurrently, this collaboration
will allow them to establish themselves as leading global partners
in the production of Actinium-225.
A new generation of nuclear
medicineThis strategic R&D partnership consists of an
in-depth evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of
the project. Based on the outcome of this first phase, SCK CEN and
IBA plan to undertake the construction and commissioning of a
production unit on the SCK CEN site in Mol, Belgium.
Alignment with Belgian coalition
agreement and European recovery planThis collaboration
highlights the implementation of the Belgian coalition agreement,
which pledges significantly more and better cancer treatments and
confirms Belgium’s leadership at the forefront of nuclear medicine.
It is supported by Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Belgian Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Economy and Employment, Tinne Van der
Straeten, Belgian Minister of Energy, and Thomas Dermine, Belgian
State Secretary for Recovery and Strategic Investments.
This initiative is also in alignment with the
recent European recovery plan for Belgium – a plan in which the
European Commission designated Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225 as
promising isotopes.
“We are excited to join forces with such a
prestigious and highly experienced partner as SCK CEN” said
Olivier Legrain, CEO of IBA. “Considering our global
leadership and long-standing expertise in nuclear medicine and
proton therapy, we see theranostics as an important addition to our
portfolio of activities in the fight against cancer. We look
forward to taking the first steps in evaluating the strategic
growth potential in this significant new market.”
Eric van Walle, Director General of SCK
CEN, commented: “Theranostics have the potential to
revolutionize the way we treat cancer. By partnering with IBA, we
can use our nuclear knowhow to transform isotopes meant to become
radioactive waste into therapeutic compounds. Our complementary
expertise will enable us to work towards providing the greatest
number of patients with the benefits of this latest generation of
nuclear medicine.”
"I am particularly pleased with this
unprecedented partnership between two key players with unparalleled
expertise," said Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Vice Prime
Minister. "This research partnership has promise for the
future. One of the two players is recognized worldwide (SCK CEN, a
federal research center), while the other is a worldwide leader in
the particle accelerator industry (IBA). This union will make it
possible to treat patients much more effectively," notes
Pierre-Yves Dermagne.
Tinne Van der Straeten, Minister of
Energy, stresses the importance of this project and the
expertise of both partners. "Belgium wants to remain a world leader
in the production of medical isotopes. Therefore, we have provided
support in the framework of the European recovery plan to allow SCK
CEN to innovate in the field of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
SCK CEN and IBA are combining their extensive expertise into this
R&D partnership to collaborate on isotopes that can be used in
more targeted cancer treatments. I am delighted to support these
developments in Belgium and watch them grow.”
“This strategic R&D partnership is one of
the first concrete results of the recovery plan, which allocates a
total of more than EUR 800 million additional resources to research
and development," explains Thomas Dermine, State Secretary
for Recovery and Strategic Investments. "Together, SCK CEN
and IBA are stepping up the fight against cancer. This is an
excellent example of how our country can play a key role in the
development of future technologies and techniques worldwide. The
medical application of radioisotopes is an area of global
excellence for Belgium that the recovery plan aims to
consolidate.”
ENDS
About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is the world
leader in particle accelerator technology. The company is the
leading supplier of equipment and services in the field of proton
therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation
therapy available today. IBA is also a leading player in the fields
of industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry.
The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs
approximately 1,500 people worldwide. IBA is listed on the
pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and
Bloomberg IBAB.BB).More information can be found at:
www.iba-worldwide.com
About SCK CENSCK CEN is one of
Belgium’s largest research centres. It has more than 850 employees
who devote themselves every day to developing peaceful applications
of nuclear energy. The research activities of SCK CEN relate to
three main themes: the safety of nuclear facilities, the
development of nuclear medicine and protecting the population and
the environment against ionising radiation. SCK CEN is recognised
worldwide and shares its knowledge through numerous publications
and training courses in order to keep up this exceptional pool of
talent.More information can be found at: www.sckcen.be
CONTACTS
IBA
SCK CENOlivier
Lechien
Wendy De GrooteCorporate Communication
Director
Communications Officer+32 10 475
890
+32 14 33 21
49communication@iba-group.com
pers@sckcen.be
Soumya ChandramouliChief
Financial Officer+32 10 475 890investorrelations@iba-group.com
For media and investor enquiries: Consilium
Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Angela Gray, Lucy
Featherstone +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 IBA@consilium-comms.com
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