Pharma giant AstraZeneca has expanded its supply deal with Michigan-based medical radioisotope producer Niowave, establishing a 10-year deal for the delivery of Actinium-225 (Ac-225), a radioisotope that has shown promise in the development of targeted cancer therapy.
AZ exercised its option to increase capacity in order to secure reliable supply of the isotope for the drugmaker’s expanding pipeline of radioconjugates, which use alpha particles to target and eliminate cancer cells, Niowave said in a Dec. 18 press release.
Financial terms of the supply deal weren’t disclosed.
“Our expanded agreement with AstraZeneca underscores Niowave's central role in scaling high-quality production of medical radioisotopes for the development of targeted cancer treatments,” Mike Zamiara, Niowave’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We are pleased to play a role in ensuring that AstraZeneca's promising pipeline of radioconjugates have the isotope supply they need.”
Niowave, which was spun out of Michigan State University's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory in 2005, boasts superconducting linear accelerator technology and radiochemistry that allow for sustainable production to address the limited supply of Ac-225.
The radioisotope emits alpha particles that deliver very potent and DNA-destructive energy that can be delivered precisely to destroy tumors while limiting any damage to surrounding healthy tissue, the company explained.
For its part, AZ doubled down on radiopharmaceuticals last March with its $2 billion buyout of Fusion Pharmaceuticals. AZ had initially collaborated with Fusion beginning in 2020 before moving to purchase its partner, whose lead candidate, FPI-2265, is a PSMA-directed radiotherapy in phase 2 development as a treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Radioisotopes form a key component in the cutting-edge cancer treatments known as radiopharmaceuticals. Deals to boost production of the specialized ingredient have gained momentum in recent years, and the pace has not let up in 2025.
Last week, Bicycle Therapeutics secured a deal with two U.K. nuclear agencies for 400 tons of reprocessed uranium it needs to develop potential radioconjugate drugs to treat cancer.
And, in August, Nusano opened the doors to 190,000-square-foot production facility in Salt Lake City that is capable of churning out more than 40 different radioisotopes used for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Earlier this year, meanwhile, Ratio Therapeutics unveiled plans to build a new research and manufacturing plant, also in Salt Lake City, while PharmaLogic shelled out an undisclosed sum in April to take a majority stake in Norway’s Agilera Pharma.
The move by PharmaLogic fits into the company’s strategy to become a global CDMO leader focused specifically on radiopharmaceuticals.