Cellectar Biosciences, Inc., a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer drug discovery and development, has entered into a supply agreement with ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM), a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech firm, for Actinium-225 (Ac-225). The deal is designed to support the clinical development of Cellectar’s actinium-labelled phospholipid ether (PLE) radiopharmaceutical candidates, including CLR 121225, a phase 1-ready compound for the treatment of solid tumours.

CLR 121225 (225Ac-CLR 121225) is a novel actinium-labelled PLE candidate under investigation for cancers such as pancreatic tumours. Built on Cellectar’s proprietary PLE delivery platform, it is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells. ITM will leverage its two decades of isotope production expertise to scale supplies of Ac-225, ensuring timely and reliable delivery to support Cellectar’s development programmes.

“Our lead alpha-emitting programme, CLR 121225, has shown strong anti-tumour activity in preclinical studies, especially in pancreatic cancer,” said James Caruso, CEO of Cellectar. “Partnering with ITM secures the high-quality Actinium-225 supply required to advance our pipeline and fully explore the benefits of targeted alpha therapy for cancer patients.”

Actinium-225 is a critical isotope for next-generation radiopharmaceuticals, valued for its alpha-emitting properties in targeted cancer therapy. However, limited global supply has slowed the pace of development in this field. To mitigate this challenge, Cellectar has built a supply network to secure access to sufficient Ac-225 for its pipeline.

Dr. Andrew Cavey, CEO of ITM, commented, “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to improving access to innovative radiopharmaceuticals. With over 20 years of leadership, a vertically integrated model, and our Actineer joint venture, ITM is well positioned to meet growing global demand for Actinium-225.”

Under the agreement, ITM will provide Cellectar with medical-grade Ac-225, produced by Actineer Inc.—a joint venture between ITM and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). The partnership ensures scalable and reliable isotope production, which remains a critical need due to the complexities of Ac-225 manufacturing.

Cellectar continues to focus on advancing its portfolio of proprietary oncology drugs through independent research and collaborations. ITM, meanwhile, remains committed to developing radiopharmaceutical therapies and diagnostics for hard-to-treat cancers, with Actineer driving forward industrial-scale Ac-225 production to address global supply shortages.