Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Specifications Of Iotron’s Copper-67 (Cu-67) Product?
The specifications of our high purity, high specific activity product may be found under “The Cu-67 Advantage.” Specific activity is at least 50 mCi/microgram (1.85 GBq/microgram). Please contact us if you would like more information.
How Does Iotron Produce Its Cu-67?
Iotron utilizes a novel, proprietary method based on enriched zinc-68 metal targets and a compact electron beam accelerator. A patented sublimation process separates Cu-67 from the target, which also facilitates rapid and efficient enriched zinc target recycling. The resulting Cu-67 has high specific activity and low chemical and radiochemical impurity levels.
What Are “Theranostics”? What Is A “Perfect Theranostic Pair”?
“Theranostics” refers to the practice of using a diagnostic radioisotope-labeled ligand to detect and stage disease by imaging, and then using a similar or identical ligand labeled with a therapeutic radioisotope to treat the disease. When the diagnostic and therapeutic ligands and radioisotopes are chemically identical, this is referred to as a “perfect theranostic pair”. Those diagnostic and therapeutic agents would be expected to have identical distribution in the patient, which may optimize patient management. Cu-67 (therapeutic) and Cu-64 or Cu-61 (diagnostic) isotopes are chemically identical, and can be labeled to identical ligands, and therefore represent a “perfect theranostic pair”. The use of copper for both the diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotope is referred to as Targeted Copper Theranostics (TCTs).
Why Is Cu-67 Such An Important Therapeutic Radioisotope?
Cu-67 has characteristics that make it highly effective for radioligand therapy (RLT). And when used in conjunction with the chemically-identical Cu-64 or Cu-61 for imaging, the potential for a perfect theranostic pairing exists.
Can Cu-67 Be Imaged?
In addition to a therapeutic beta particle emission, Cu-67 also emits low energy gamma radiation very similar in energy to the most common imaging radioisotope (technetium-99m). This allows its location in the body to be easily imaged and quantified using SPECT imaging equipment readily available in most hospitals.
How Is Cu-67 Used Today?
Cu-67 is being investigated actively by multiple organizations in pre-clinical and clinical studies for its potential to treat various cancers. This is done using radioligand therapy (RLT) procedures, in which the Cu-67 is incorporated into a ligand molecule which binds to specific cancer cell receptors. The beta particle energy emitted from the Cu-67 isotope then disrupts the cancer cell DNA and inhibits cell reproduction.
What are regulatory requirements for use of Cu-67 in radioligand therapy?
Cu-67 is an active ingredient in therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, where the Cu-67 is bound to a ligand. The radiopharmaceutical may be administered to patients under an approved clinical study, or when the radiopharmaceutical is prescribed by a qualified physician after it has been approved for human use by a regulatory authority. There are strict requirements for the use of Cu-67 in radiopharmaceuticals.
Does Iotron Make Any Other Isotopes?
Currently we are focused exclusively on supplying the highest quality Cu-67 in North America and Europe. Meanwhile our R&D team are actively exploring other high value, high demand medical isotopes that we may offer in the future.
What Is The History Of Iotron Medical, Inc.? How Long Has The Company Been In Existence?
Iotron Medical has been working on the commercialization of electron beam-based radioisotope production since 2011. Iotron Medical, founded in 1989 is a spin-out business from Iotron Industries, a successful and innovative provider of electron beam-based material treatments for medical and industrial products.
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