Russia has commenced the production of the innovative medical isotope terbium-161, intended for cancer therapy. This production process has been established by specialists at the Institute of Reactor Materials, part of Rosatom’s scientific division, located in the Sverdlovsk region. The first experimental batch of the isotope will be used for testing at the Russian Research Center for Radiology and Surgical Technologies (RNCRH), which specializes in nuclear medicine research and the development of radiopharmaceuticals.
Preliminary studies indicate that the new isotope demonstrates enhanced efficacy, delivering a dose that is 1.5 times greater than existing analogs. This improvement allows for a reduced amount of administered medication compared to lutetium-based alternatives, thereby minimizing radiation exposure to the patient.
“Preclinical studies show that the dose delivered by terbium-161 is, on average, 1.5 times higher than that of comparable drugs. This enables a reduction in the amount of radiopharmaceutical administered compared to lutetium-based products, which will decrease radiation exposure to patients and reduce irradiation of healthy organs and tissues,” stated Andrey Stanzhevsky, Deputy Director for Research at RNCRH.
Researchers continue to explore potential applications for terbium-161. Its characteristics suggest the possibility of developing a series of radiopharmaceuticals for treating various tumors and conditions requiring precision radiotherapy. The production of this isotope is supported by supplies of gadolinium-160 from the Electrochemical Plant, also part of Rosatom’s structure.
