SK Biopharm Signs High-Purity Radioisotope Supply Agreement with Belgium's Pantera

SK Biopharm announced on the 25th that it has signed a supply contract for Actinium-225 (Ac-225) with Belgian company Panteraa.

Actinium-225 is a radioactive isotope that emits alpha particles and is a key raw material for the development of Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT). Through this contract, SK Biopharm has diversified its radioactive isotope supply chain and maximized the stability of sourcing this scarce raw material, thereby solidifying its competitive edge as a global leader in RPT.

Alpha radionuclide-based RPT is a next-generation RPT treatment method that is gaining attention for its superior lethality and reduced side effects on normal cells compared to conventional beta radionuclide-based RPT therapies. Accordingly, industry interest and clinical pipelines are expanding, but due to production scale limitations, global supply shortages persist. Therefore, securing a stable inventory of Actinium-225 and mitigating supply risks are critical requirements for new RPT drug development.

Following the initial supply contract for Actinium-225 with US-based Terawatt in August, SK Biopharm has now established cooperative relationships with multiple thorium-229-based high-purity Actinium-225 producers in Asia through this contract with Panteraa. Through this, SK Biopharm plans to proactively secure the hard-to-obtain high-purity Actinium-225 and lead the RPT market. In particular, by minimizing risks of preclinical and clinical trial disruptions caused by supply delays or failures directly linked to the success of RPT drug development, SK Biopharm aims to accelerate the development of new RPT drugs.

Panteraa is a joint venture between particle accelerator specialist IBA and the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK-CEN). Established in 2022 with the goal of large-scale Actinium-225 production, Panteraa plans to produce high-purity Actinium-225 through a technology transfer partnership with Terawatt. SK Biopharm intends to utilize the high-purity Actinium-225 supplied through this partnership for the stable development of its preclinical candidate SKL35501 (formerly FL-091), introduced from Fullife Technology.

Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of SK Biopharm, stated, "Through this contract, we have established a stable supply chain for Actinium-225 necessary for next-generation RPT development, equipping us with core capabilities for RPT drug development." He added, "Based on this, we will write a stable and long-term growth scenario in the RPT market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.