A groundbreaking 15-year partnership between biotech company Bicycle Therapeutics and the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority could revolutionise cancer care by developing precision treatments using repurposed uranium from nuclear reactors.
The innovative radiopharmaceutical therapies could transform the treatment of cancers that traditional methods often find challenging to address, such as prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours affecting organs including the gut and pancreas.
These radiopharmaceuticals operate by targeting cancer cells directly with radiotherapy, eliminating tumours whilst minimising the risk of adverse effects. The breakthrough treatments will be developed by extracting the medical isotope lead-212 from repurposed uranium. Only a minuscule quantity of this isotope is required for radiopharmaceutical applications.
The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is poised to grant Bicycle access to as much as 400 tonnes of material in the form of repurposed uranium across 15 years.
This uranium will continuously regenerate the isotopes required for treatment, supplying tens of thousands of lead-212 doses annually.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall commented: “Cancer is a disease that affects millions worldwide, and tears too many families apart.
“Breakthroughs in medical science are giving more cancer patients and their loved ones hope, and this unique partnership could help take that work even further.
“Transforming nuclear material into pioneering cancer treatments might seem like something from a sci-fi film – but thanks to the brilliance of scientists, researchers and doctors, it could be a life-saving reality.
“Work like this shows exactly why we’re determined to support our life sciences innovators to make groundbreaking new treatments possible.”
Bicycle Therapeutics CEO Kevin Lee, Ph.D., said: “As a UK-based biotech company, we are incredibly grateful to the UK Government for their recognition of Bicycle’s Nobel-prize winning science and potential to create radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies from up to 400 tonnes of reprocessed uranium over 15 years.
“This is a significant milestone, bringing us closer to our goal of helping patients live longer and live well.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
