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Life Science BusinessResearch and Development on 224Ra/212Pb

Started Development Research on Lead 212 (212Pb) Generator

We signed a joint research agreement with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) on November 30, 2017, and started development research on a 212 (212Pb) generator used for nuclear medicine treatment, which utilizes alpha-emitting nuclides and is now attracting more attention as a new cancer treatment.
Nuclear medicine treatment using alpha-emitting nuclides can target cancer cells with alpha rays from the inside the patient's body. This approach is also expected to be an effective "cancer treatment that cures without cutting" for metastatic cancer. Also, the 212Pb generator is a small-sized device that can produce 212Pb from radium 224 (224Ra) without using large-scale facilities such as nuclear reactors or accelerators.
This joint research will be implemented for five years as one of the projects adopted in 2017 by the Industry-Academia Co-creation Platform Joint Research Promotion Program (OPERA) of Japan Science and Technology Agency.
With a wealth of experience in RI research spanning more than 80 years, RIKEN has produced tremendous research results, including the discovery of a new element called Nihonium, under the well-organized research environment and operating system. On the other hand, we have established business offices at nuclear facilities since the 1950s and built up comprehensive maintenance technology for nuclear facilities since then. Recently, we have been developing business in the medical field utilizing RI. This joint research is a project takes leverages each other's strengths.

[Supplement] Outline and benefits of nuclear medicine treatment utilizing alpha-emitting nuclides

核医学治療

Unlike conventional external radiotherapy, this cancer treatment injects alpha-emitting nuclides into the patient`s veins that directly act on cancer cells. For castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases, internal therapy that uses radium chloride 223 (223RaCl2), an alpha-emitting nuclide, has already been commercialized.

  1. By combining lead 212 (212Pb) with antibodies or peptides that specifically accumulate in cancer sites and administering it intravenously, we can target multiple cancer sites in the patient`s body at once.
  2. Alpha rays impose quite a low load on healthy sites because they act only on a very small area of cells around the anchorage area.