Nusano, a physics company focused on transforming medical radioisotope production, has opened its new radiochemistry laboratory in West Valley City, Utah, marking a significant milestone in addressing critical supply shortages for cancer therapy ingredients. The company cut the ribbon on the Radiance Lab on March 11, 2024, positioning itself to begin commercial-scale production of essential radiotherapeutics ingredients in early 2025.
Strategic Timeline for Commercial Production
Chris Lowe, CEO of Nusano, outlined the company's aggressive timeline for bringing new radioisotope supplies to market. "Nusano is less than 12 months away from bringing critical, new radioisotope supplies to researchers, drugmakers and patients," Lowe stated. "We expect to begin producing non-carrier added lutetium-177 in Q1 2025, followed by actinium-225 in the second half of the year."
The 5,000 square foot Radiance Lab will serve as both a working laboratory and innovation hub, allowing Nusano's radiochemistry team to develop methods and procedures to ensure product quality while exploring the development of hard-to-produce and undersupplied radioisotopes.
Addressing Critical Supply Chain Challenges
Radioisotopes serve as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in new and emerging cancer therapies, but existing supply chains for these treatment-enabling resources are often strained, posing risks to patient care and ongoing drug development. Anna Goldberg, director of Radiochemistry and Production Operations for Nusano, emphasized the company's mission to expand therapeutic possibilities.
"Our goal is to enable drugmakers and researchers to begin exploring cancer therapies using all the radioisotopes that are possible, versus merely those that are available," Goldberg explained. The Radiance Lab will allow Nusano's world-class radiochemistry team to work at the forefront of their field, developing separation and purification processes for commercial-scale production.
Advanced Production Technology and Infrastructure
Nusano's approach combines expertise in physics and radiochemistry with proprietary technology designed to overcome current production limitations. The company's proprietary ion source is smaller and more efficient than existing production methods, resulting in significantly greater yields and enabling simultaneous manufacturing of multiple radioisotopes.
The Radiance Lab complements Nusano's flagship 190,000 square foot production facility, also scheduled to open in early 2025. Both facilities are strategically located approximately 10 minutes from Salt Lake City airport, creating a supply chain designed to deliver life-changing radioisotopes to drugmakers, clinics, and patients across the United States and many parts of the world within 24 hours.
Economic and Regional Impact
The development represents a significant investment in Utah's biotechnology sector. John Dahlstrom, executive vice president at The Wasatch Group, which developed the building housing the Radiance Lab in the new Medical Innovation and Technology Campus, highlighted the broader implications.
"Nusano is revolutionizing radioisotope production and creating exciting new possibilities in cancer care, and it's happening right here in Utah," Dahlstrom said. "We expect Nusano's success will promote the vibrancy of this biotechnology hub – creating jobs and contributing to the continued growth of Utah's biotech economy."
The company's commitment to bringing stability and innovation to the critically undersupplied medical radioisotopes market positions it to support both current diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical development while enabling future cancer radiotherapeutics.
