Speaker
Description
Actinium-225 (Ac-225) is emerging as one of the most promising radionuclides for targeted alpha therapy (TAT), particularly for the treatment of advanced and metastatic cancers. However, its wider clinical application is presently constrained by limited global production capacity and the availability of suitable production feedstock.
Southern Cross Medical Radioisotopes (SCMR) and the University of Wollongong (CMRP) are developing an Australian capability for accelerator-based production of Ac-225 using the photonuclear reaction Ra-226(γ,n)Ra-225 → Ac-225. The proposed approach employs a high-power electron accelerator to generate an intense bremsstrahlung photon beam for irradiation of Ra-226 targets. Following irradiation, Ac-225 is recovered through radiochemical separation while the remaining Ra-226 is recycled for subsequent production cycles.
An important component of the Australian program is the recovery and beneficial reuse of legacy Ra-226 sources, including historical medical radium sources, as potential feedstock for Ac-225 production. Development work also includes target preparation, optimisation of irradiation conditions, Ra-226/Ac-225 separation and recycling processes, and evaluation of scalable production systems.
The objective is to establish a reliable and scalable Australian source of Ac-225 capable of supporting future clinical and research requirements in Australia while contributing to the rapidly increasing demand for alpha-emitting medical radionuclides throughout the Asia-Pacific region. At full-scale production, the proposed facility could produce more than 150 Ci of Ac-225 annually, with production well beyond Australian requirements available to support growing demand across the Asia-Pacific region.
This presentation will describe the accelerator production concept, the Australian development program and current progress, and opportunities for collaboration with accelerator, radiochemistry and medical-isotope research groups across the Asia-Pacific region.