News

University of Missouri initiative to boost radioisotope production

Expansion plans will scale up production at the University of Missouri Research Reactor, the only U.S. supplier of the lutetium-177 radioisotope.

A nuclear manufacturing technician uses a manipulator arm to work samples in a hot cell.

Oct. 24, 2024
Contact: Uriah Orland, 573-884-5139, uriah.orland@missouri.edu

The University of Missouri is stepping up its fight against cancer with a new initiative to ramp up production of no-carrier-added lutetium-177 (NCA Lu-177), a critical ingredient in cutting-edge cancer therapies.

Lutetium-177 is the active pharmaceutical ingredient used in Pluvicto and Lutathera, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved targeted radionuclide therapies used to treat prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, respectively.

The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) is the sole producer of Lu-177 in the United States and began initial production of the isotope in fall 2023.

“The growth and expansion at the University of Missouri Research Reactor is critical to the lives of so many cancer patients,” said University of Missouri President Mun Choi. “The expansion of lutetium production will allow Mizzou to provide more of the life-saving treatments for patients in Missouri and across the country. As the only provider of these radioisotopes in the United States, MURR is crucial to ensuring treatments made today are available for patients next week.”

The initiative moves Columbia, Missouri, closer to becoming the center of radiopharmaceutical production in the U.S., solidifying its role as a leader in cancer treatment.

“The Board of Curators is proud to have approved this landmark initiative,” said Robin Wenneker, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. “The expanded portfolio ensures the University and the state of Missouri will continue to be known as a global leader in radiopharmaceuticals and cancer treatment.”

MURR, the nation’s most powerful university research reactor, has been operational for nearly 60 years. In 2023 alone, its radioisotopes helped treat more than 1.6 million cancer and cardiac patients.

“This next phase is an exciting one,” said Matt Sanford, MURR executive director. “It is setting the foundation for future production and demonstrating the expertise found at MURR. Combined with our ambitious plans for NextGen MURR, a new 20-megawatt research reactor, we are securing Mizzou’s place as a leader in cancer research and treatment for generations.”

The expanded production capability is especially needed as more radiopharmaceuticals gain FDA approval, including the recent approval of Lutathera for pediatric patients 12 and over — marking a first in pancreatic cancer treatment for teens.

Through the initiative, the University of Missouri Research Reactor will expand production facilities to enable more radioisotope processing to meet increasing demand. The UM Board of Curators also took preliminary actions to provide a pathway to reduce the timeline of construction and production. In February, the board approved the architecture and engineering firm Clark & Enersen from Kansas City to provide preconstruction services for the project and approved the purchase of additional hot cells, critical to the safe handling and manufacturing of radioisotopes.

Agreements with radiopharmaceutical companies are key to growing the domestic source of these critical radioisotopes, which is a driving force behind NextGen MURR — Mizzou’s transformational initiative to build a new, state-of-the-art reactor.