On June 8, 2021 SHINE Medical Technologies LLC reported that it has entered a multi-year contract with the University of Missouri Research Reactor, or MURR, for irradiation of ytterbium-176, the starting material for the production of lutetium-177 (Lu-177), a therapeutic isotope showing great promise for improving patient outcomes for a range of cancers (Press release, Shine Medical Technologies, JUN 8, 2021, View Source;pk_kwd=shine-medical-announces-agreement-with-murr [SID1234583705]).
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"MURR’s experienced team and reliable reactor make its irradiation services invaluable to SHINE as we commercialize our Lu-177," said Katrina Pitas, vice president and general manager of SHINE Therapeutics. "MURR’s high neutron flux will help us produce all the non-carrier-added Lu-177 we need to serve our rapidly growing customer base, treating a wide variety of cancers."
MURR is located on the campus of the University of Missouri at Columbia.
"The MURR team looks forward to serving SHINE as it commercializes Lu-177," said Ken Brooks, associate director for business development at the MU Research Reactor. "For more than 50 years, MURR has served researchers and industry partners around the world."
Lu-177 is a low-energy beta-particle emitter that works by directly irradiating cancer cells after being delivered to the cancer site by a targeting molecule. Energy from Lu-177 only travels a short distance once it reaches cancer cells, enabling the isotope to destroy those cells with little damage to surrounding tissue. Lu-177-based therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of neuroendocrine cancers. It also shows promise for the treatment of metastatic prostate, breast, liver, brain and other cancers.
"The need for more effective cancer treatments continues to grow, particularly for those patients with metastatic or late-stage cancers," said Greg Piefer, SHINE’s founder and CEO. "We can help provide hope to those patients with a highly precise treatment that produces little damage in the tissue around the treatment site. SHINE expects to play a significant role in ensuring that patients around the world have access to Lu-177."
SHINE will host a booth in the SNMMI 2021 Virtual Exhibit Hall. The exhibit hall will be open June 11-15 as part of SNMMI’s Annual Meeting. The company will highlight its lutetium-177 product and progress on the commercialization of molybdenum-99.