AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc., a Canada-based radiopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has entered a strategic long-term supply agreement with TerraPower Isotopes, LLC to source actinium-225 (Ac-225), a critical isotope in the development of advanced cancer treatments. The agreement, publicly announced on June 18, 2025, marks a significant milestone in strengthening the global supply chain for targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, especially as clinical trials relying on alpha-emitting isotopes intensify.
Through this partnership, AtomVie Global Radiopharma aims to bolster its ability to support a growing base of pharmaceutical partners by ensuring consistent and high-purity access to Ac-225, one of the most in-demand radioisotopes in nuclear oncology. The isotope will be used across both early-stage and late-stage programs that rely on AtomVie’s CDMO infrastructure to transition investigational drugs from the lab to clinical and commercial delivery.
The announcement comes at a time when the global market for targeted alpha therapies (TAT) is rapidly expanding, driven by rising demand for novel oncology solutions that deliver precise cell-killing activity while sparing healthy tissues.
What role does actinium-225 play in radiopharmaceutical therapies and why is its supply under pressure?
Actinium-225 is a rare and powerful alpha-emitting radioisotope used to label radioligands or antibodies that specifically target cancer cells. Once bound to tumor sites, Ac-225 emits highly energetic alpha particles that destroy diseased cells through double-strand DNA breaks, making it a cornerstone agent in targeted alpha therapy (TAT). Its clinical promise has been particularly noted in prostate cancer, leukemia, neuroendocrine tumors, and other hard-to-treat malignancies.
However, global production of actinium-225 remains limited, with existing supply primarily coming from legacy thorium sources or small-scale accelerator-based production. This bottleneck has created a critical challenge for biopharma firms developing Ac-225-based treatments, many of which require scalable, reliable, and GMP-grade isotope sources to progress through regulatory and commercial pathways.
By securing access to ultrapure Ac-225 from TerraPower Isotopes, AtomVie Global Radiopharma is seeking to eliminate a major bottleneck in its operational value chain, ensuring that its CDMO offerings are robust enough to support both clinical manufacturing and eventual market-scale production.
How does this supply agreement reflect AtomVie’s broader radiopharmaceutical development and CDMO growth strategy?
Headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario, AtomVie Global Radiopharma has emerged as a specialized CDMO partner for global pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms pursuing radiotherapeutics. Its services span formulation, development, GMP manufacturing, and clinical trial support for both small-batch and commercial-scale radiopharmaceuticals.
The actinium-225 supply agreement aligns with AtomVie’s expansion strategy, which includes investing in a new, state-of-the-art radiopharmaceutical facility and forging long-term partnerships with isotope producers to enable uninterrupted program delivery. As the radiopharmaceutical sector becomes increasingly competitive, CDMOs like AtomVie are under pressure to offer supply chain assurances and full lifecycle support from molecule development to patient-ready dosing.
Bruno Paquin, Managing Director of AtomVie, underscored this supply-chain imperative in his remarks, stating that the partnership with TerraPower Isotopes ensures the supply of actinium-225 to its customers. He added that this agreement strengthens AtomVie’s ability to meet the evolving needs of its pharmaceutical partners by supporting their programs from development through to commercial delivery. Paquin noted that the collaboration is advancing innovative therapies and improving the lives of patients around the world with high-quality radiopharmaceuticals.
What is TerraPower Isotopes’ capacity to produce actinium-225 and how does it complement AtomVie’s CDMO network?
TerraPower Isotopes, a division of TerraPower—founded by Bill Gates and known for its nuclear energy innovations—has been expanding its role as a global isotope supplier focused on medical applications. The company is investing in scalable isotope production technologies, including linear accelerators and cyclotron systems, to meet surging global demand for isotopes such as actinium-225 and lutetium-177.
In this agreement, TerraPower Isotopes will provide ultrapure Ac-225 in line with GMP-grade requirements, ensuring compatibility with AtomVie’s development and manufacturing processes. The supply partnership is designed not only to ensure consistency but also to scale with AtomVie’s growing pipeline and client base.
Scott Claunch, President of TerraPower Isotopes, emphasized the synergistic potential of the collaboration, stating that by working with AtomVie, TerraPower can help advance the next generation of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies. He noted that combining access to TerraPower’s ultrapure actinium-225 with AtomVie’s development and manufacturing capabilities enables both companies to play a critical role in advancing therapies with the potential to improve patient outcomes.
How are institutional stakeholders and oncology innovators viewing this radiopharma supply deal?
While neither AtomVie Global Radiopharma nor TerraPower Isotopes is publicly traded, the announcement has captured the attention of institutional oncology researchers and CDMO clients who rely on stability and transparency in isotope sourcing. With global shortages previously delaying clinical progress for several high-profile radiotherapeutic programs, this agreement is seen as a model for future industry coordination.
Analyst sentiment around the broader TAT segment remains bullish, especially following regulatory milestones in radioligand therapy from players like Novartis (Lutathera, Pluvicto) and Actinium Pharmaceuticals. AtomVie’s agreement may be viewed as a strategic move to gain traction as a preferred CDMO partner for biotech startups and mid-tier pharma seeking Ac-225-based delivery platforms without building in-house manufacturing capacity.
Industry consultants also suggest that robust isotope supply agreements could become prerequisites for Series A–C radiopharma companies pursuing clinical validation and licensing deals, further elevating the importance of partnerships like AtomVie–TerraPower.
What does the future hold for actinium-225-based therapies and radiopharma manufacturing scalability?
The long-term outlook for actinium-225 as a foundational element in targeted alpha therapies remains strong. According to research from Global Market Insights, the TAT market is expected to surpass USD 2 billion by 2030, with alpha-emitting isotopes accounting for a substantial share of therapeutic radiopharmaceutical pipelines.
The challenge, however, lies in balancing clinical demand with scalable isotope supply, GMP manufacturing, and regulatory alignment across multiple geographies. AtomVie’s proactive steps to de-risk isotope access signal its intent to remain competitive in this evolving CDMO ecosystem.
As more investigational new drugs (INDs) and biologics license applications (BLAs) featuring Ac-225 enter review phases across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, AtomVie’s manufacturing readiness—backed by secure isotope channels—positions it to capture downstream opportunities in late-stage commercial scale-up.
Furthermore, industry watchers expect TerraPower Isotopes to expand its partnerships beyond AtomVie, especially as it ramps up domestic U.S.-based isotope infrastructure under ongoing Department of Energy initiatives.
A blueprint for scalable radiopharma innovation amid isotope scarcity
The strategic supply agreement between AtomVie Global Radiopharma and TerraPower Isotopes highlights the emerging blueprint for innovation in radiopharmaceuticals—one that hinges not just on molecular targeting and regulatory navigation, but also on supply chain engineering.
With actinium-225 poised to transform cancer treatment paradigms, securing isotope reliability is no longer optional. AtomVie’s CDMO trajectory, now reinforced with a long-term Ac-225 partner, reflects a calculated approach to operational resilience, sector leadership, and global access to precision oncology solutions
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