Developing the next generation of quality control instruments for Targeted Alpha Therapies

Targeted alpha therapies (TAT) have the potential to radically improve the outcomes of cancer treatments by using alpha-emitting radionuclides to enable new diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. However, the quality controls for impurity identification of alpha-labelled radiopharmaceuticals prior to patient administration are not as fully understood or developed as they are for gamma and beta-emitters, which are rigorously regulated.

To address this challenge, LabLogic is partnering with the University of York’s Nuclear Physics Group through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to develop the next generation of quality control instruments for TAT. 

Supported by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, KTPs are designed to stimulate innovation and help develop business relationships between industry and academia.

LabLogic has enjoyed success with KTPs before, with research and development director Dr Tom Deakin being a former KTP Associate who joined the business from York more than 14 years ago. 

Dr Deakin said: “The importance and growth of alpha-labelled compounds cannot be understated. It represents the next significant step in the treatment of cancers, and the correlating demand for quality controls is something that LabLogic is well placed to serve given our existing experience. 
“This collaboration will deliver us a wealth of knowledge from academia and better places us to deliver the right solutions for this next challenge.”

Technological innovation 

The objectives of this exciting new KTP will be to develop instruments capable of performing the key quality control metrics of radionuclidic identity, radionuclidic purity, and radiochemical purity for alpha-radiolabelled theranostic compounds. LabLogic is already regarded as a leader of technological innovation in nuclear medicine through its development of smaller instruments which do not compromise on technical performance, and through the introduction of automation to traditionally manual quality control methodologies.

The University of York’s Nuclear Physics Group has an excellent knowledge base with established relationships with international facilities such as TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre. The group will bring its experience in sensor development and instrumentation, as well as capabilities to simulate and model radiation detector performance. As part of the KTP, a qualifying candidate, employed at York, will work within LabLogic’s research and development Department to innovate future product development for TAT quality control alongside the existing team.
Head of the Nuclear Physics Group Professor David Jenkins said: “We are excited by the opportunity to work on this KTP with LabLogic, who are a world-leading company based in our region. It’s an excellent example of how universities and business can work together to create technology and quality control approaches that will help to enable advanced cancer therapy.”

Defining future strategy and regulatory guidance

The KTP will not only see the development of new instruments but will also be working to define regulatory strategy and guidance. As the analysis of alpha-emitters in theranostics is in its nascent stages given its relatively recent emergence, one of the key aims of the partnership will be to establish quality controls through various international organisations, such as the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Astatine-211 Working Group, which will serve as a reference point at an international level.

By developing new, innovative instruments for alpha radiation measurement and detection, LabLogic and the University of York will enable the future delivery of Targeted Alpha Therapies to improve cancer patient outcomes.