Partnership aims to ‘revolutionize’ isotope production in Canada
Serva Energy has partnered with the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC), an essential advocate for the world’s supply of a diverse portfolio of isotopes.
As the newest member of the CNIC, Serva seeks to engage with the growing Canadian isotope market—leveraging and developing new technologies and providing the tools necessary to produce needed isotopes for novel cancer treatments.
“We are excited about this partnership and its potential to deliver critical solutions and supplies to the radiopharmaceutical industry,” said Ian Horvath, CEO and founder of Serva. “We see this partnership with the CNIC as a triple win for Serva, Canadian partners, and patients in North America and around the world.”
Last June, Serva announced the development of a novel production method to dramatically increase the extremely limited supply of Actinium-225 (Ac-225), a life-saving isotope used in highly effective next-generation cancer treatments known as Targeted Alpha Therapies (TAT).
The milestone marked the first time a commercial entity had employed a conventional nuclear reactor to produce the TAT isotope—allowing for dozens of research reactors around the world to collaborate with Serva on increasing Ac-225 production without huge capital investments or delays for construction.
“To overcome existing and future supply challenges, we must work as a global isotope community to develop solutions to ensure that patients around the world can benefit from revolutionary cancer treatments,” said James Scongack, Chair of the CNIC. “The CNIC was formed to facilitate these types of international connections and encourage global partnerships with the Canadian isotope industry. These partnerships will further enable innovation within the industry and ensure a secure supply of isotopes to fuel clinical trials and essential health research here in Canada.”
An authority in safeguarding the continued availability of isotopes, the CNIC works to “support the highest levels of public health” and leverages existing infrastructure and expertise in order to have a “significant positive impact on human health across the globe.”
“There is a long history in Canada of isotope production and a more recent reinvigoration and support for the industry,” said Dr. Sarah Jones, Vice President of Serva Medical. “From universities to industry, reactors to radium supply, CNIC partners have been at the forefront of this dynamic work. We are honored to be part of this developing ecosystem of innovation and are eager to partner with CNIC members.”