NorthStar Expands Commercial-Scale Radioisotope Production Capabilities Using Rhotodtron Accelerator Technology® from IBA, more environmentally friendly
Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, and BELOIT, Wisconsin, USA, September 20, 2022 – IBA (Ion Beam Application SA, EURONEXT), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, and NorthStar Medical RadioisotopesLLC, a global innovator in the development, production and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals used for medical imaging and therapeutic applications, today announces a new agreement for NorthStar to acquire two additional IBA Rhodotron accelerators.® TT300 HE electron beam, together with associated beam lines, for the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).
With this new order, it is a total of five Rhodotron accelerators® that NorthStar has purchased from IBA to date. NorthStar purchased two electron beam accelerators from IBA in 2019 for the production of Mo-99, and a third accelerator in 2021 for the production of the therapeutic radioisotope actinium-225 (225Ac). The two additional accelerators will be used to further develop commercial-scale radioisotope production capabilities at NorthStar’s facilities in Beloit, Wisconsin. All of NorthStar’s production processes use innovative, more environmentally friendly technology that is not uranium-based.
The expansion of NorthStar’s first accelerator production facility in Beloit is nearing completion and is entering the final stages of the controls required for licensing and FDA approval. The first two accelerators are operating at full power and performing the final tests. Isotope processing infrastructure equipment has been installed and undergoing final testing. Construction of NorthStar’s actinium-225 production facility is also well underway, and the delivery of the third Rhodotron accelerator® of IBA is scheduled for the end of 2022.
“NorthStar continues to invest in the future of nuclear medicine by using innovative, more environmentally friendly technology for the production of radioisotopes. The purchase of these additional accelerators marks another step in our very productive relationship with IBA,” says Stephen Merrick, Chief Executive Officer of NorthStar. “IBA has demonstrated great commercial expertise and has been very successful in the delivery of electron beam accelerators for our Mo-99 production expansion program, as well as in the design and construction on measurement of our accelerator for the Ac-225. We are proud that IBA is a partner in helping to make these important diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radioisotope products available to advance patient health, and we look forward to continuing to work with them. »
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, adds “We are delighted to sign this new agreement with NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes and continue to provide innovative solutions for reliable radioisotope supply. Rhodotron accelerators® from IBA offer the most advanced electron accelerator technology in the world, and provide a highly efficient method for producing medical radioisotopes such as Mo-99, Ac-225 and Cu-67 without uranium. We look forward to continuing to work with NorthStar to advance research and help patients. »
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About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA) is the world leader in particle acceleration technology. The company is the leading provider of equipment and services in the field of proton therapy, considered the most advanced form of radiotherapy available today. IBA is also a leading player in the fields of industrial sterilization, radiopharmacy and dosimetry. The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs approximately 1,600 people worldwide. IBA is a B Corporation (B Corp) certified company that meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance.
The company is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and
Bloomberg IBAB.BB).
For more information : www.iba-worldwide.com
About NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC (NorthStar)
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is a commercial nuclear medicine company that develops, produces and manufactures diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. The company’s proprietary advanced technology and proven management team have propelled it to the forefront of medical radioisotope production in the United States as the only domestic producer of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99 ), a radioisotope used for diagnostic imaging. Mo-99 is used to generate technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the most widely used radiopharmaceutical in diagnostic imaging to assess the extent and severity of heart disease and cancer. NorthStar’s unique Mo-99 production process is uranium-free and more environmentally friendly. NorthStar is expanding its position as an industry leader in the emerging field of therapeutic radioisotopes, which are used in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy to treat cancer, respiratory diseases and other serious illnesses. Using ground-breaking, environmentally friendly electron accelerator technology, NorthStar is poised to become the first commercial producer of therapeutic radioisotopes like actinium-225 (Ac-225) and copper-67 (Cu-67). NorthStar also collaborates with other companies in the development of radiopharmaceuticals. For more information on NorthStar’s comprehensive radiopharmaceutical portfolio, visit www.northstarnm.com.
CONTACTS
| IBA Soumya Chandramouli Chief Financial Officer +32 10 475 890 [email protected] Olivier Lechien | For NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC Corporate: Lisa Holst Vice President Sales and Marketing 678-471-9027 Investor Relations: Media: |
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