Framatome backs Global Morpho Pharma's high-capacity Lutetium-177 separation process

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Framatome backs Global Morpho Pharma's high-capacity Lutetium-177 separation process
by Staff Writers
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 07, 2023

In a significant stride towards enhancing cancer treatment technologies, Framatome has announced a collaboration with Global Morpho Pharma to develop a high-capacity technology for the purification of non-carrier-added (n.c.a.) Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), a crucial medical radioisotope. This partnership is poised to meet the surging demand for Lu-177 and foster advancements in cancer therapies.

Global Morpho Pharma has innovated a patented technology that remarkably separates Lu-177 from Ytterbium-176 (Yb-176) targets, offering up to 50 times greater capacity than current technologies. Under this new agreement, Framatome will extend its laboratory expertise and services to scale this pilot technology to industrial levels at its Technical Center in Erlangen, Germany.

Francois Gauche, Director of Framatome Healthcare, expressed pride in this collaboration. "Global Morpho Pharma's choice of Framatome to industrialize their groundbreaking technology is a testament to our team's competence and flexibility. This initiative extends our services beyond power-generating nuclear stations, marking a significant contribution to nuclear medicine technology," he stated.

The demand for n.c.a. Lu-177 is projected to grow 15-fold by 2030, with an expected reach to 300,000 patients treated. This increasing demand necessitates innovations across the manufacturing chain, and Global Morpho Pharma's technology is a key player in meeting this need. The technology promises a substantial leap in target processing capacity, ensuring a stable supply of n.c.a Lu-177.

Francois Zimmermann, CEO of Global Morpho Pharma, looks forward to the partnership. "Validating our high mass processing technology at an industrial scale with Framatome's support is a significant step. This technology, coupled with our KaLupso solution for local Lu-177 processing, will streamline the value chain in a market where diversification and efficiency are crucial," he commented.

This partnership cements Global Morpho Pharma's position as a leader in medical radioisotope production technology and underscores Framatome Healthcare's commitment to pioneering cancer treatments using nuclear technologies.

Lu-177, a beta-emitting radioisotope, is instrumental in targeted radionuclide therapy, particularly in treating prostate cancer. It also shows promise in other cancer treatment developments. Framatome's proprietary isotope production technology marked a milestone in June 2022 by facilitating the first large-scale commercial production of n.c.a. Lu-177 in a power reactor.