Radioisotope lead-212 can be extracted from reprocessed uranium
The government-funded United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) and not-for-profit organisation Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) have received funding to drive the development of innovative approaches for new cancer treatments using “waste” from the generation of nuclear electricity.
The funding, from the government body UK Research and Innovation, will allow UKNNL and MDC to finalise the case to scale up the harvesting of precision nuclear medicines from the UK’s spent nuclear material.
Precision nuclear medicine is a rapidly advancing practice that has the potential to drive game-changing breakthroughs for patients. An emerging approach, called targeted alpha therapy, has the potential to be more effective and have few side effects.
The radioisotope lead-212 is generating particular interest in the field of precision nuclear medicine. It can be extracted from reprocessed uranium – the fuel used in commercial nuclear power plants.
As it decays, with a half-life of about 11 hours, scientists can use lead-212’s emissions to target and destroy cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy tissues.
Other countries are already researching and developing these treatments, but the UK does not yet have a sustainable pipeline of radiopharmaceuticals to secure access for UK patients.
UKNNL and MDC said in a statement they will explore potential options for making the material available to researchers and drug development companies.
The long-term aim is to enable commercial production and routine use within the country’s government-funded National Health Service for the benefit of patients and the development of a new community.
UKNNL chief executive officer Professor Paul Howarth said that for decades UKNNL has processed the uranium from the UK’s nuclear power plants, constantly developing new techniques and capabilities.
He said: “This funding will help to clarify how lead-212 can progress to the next step, to provide life-saving therapies for cancers in patients in the UK and ensure that the next generation of scientists can continue this vital work.
“What is most remarkable is the fact that this uranium has already powered our homes, and it is now being reused to potentially save lives.”
