US-based TerraPower Isotopes (TPI), part of nuclear company TerraPower has broken ground on its Bellwether Laboratory – a 250,000-square-foot actinium-225 (Ac-225) manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. TPI’s Bellwether Laboratory, combined with the company’s expanding capacity in its Everett, Washington laboratory, will increase the global Ac-225 production capacity twenty-fold addressing a critical supply constraint that has limited the advancement of targeted alpha therapies for cancer treatment.
TPI selected Philadelphia and ultimately the Bellwether District following a rigorous nationwide site evaluation process that included more than 350 potential locations and 49 site visits across eight metropolitan areas. Terrapower said Philadelphia was selected because of its strong pharmaceutical footprint, distinguished healthcare leadership, unparalleled access to top talent and academic institutions, and an exceptionally supportive city and state.
The Bellwether Laboratory is a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility that is projected to create roughly 225 full-time jobs in Philadelphia as well as approximately 500 construction jobs.
“Breaking ground today on the Bellwether Laboratory represents a defining chapter in TerraPower’s history and in the history of actinium-225 manufacturing,” said Chris Levesque, President & CEO of TerraPower. “This new flagship, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will produce actinium-225 at a scale the industry has never seen before, providing global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with the reliable, large-volume supply they need to advance their clinical programs and ultimately expand cancer treatment options for patients.”
Scott Claunch, President of TerraPower Isotopes, noted: “The Bellwether Laboratory is purpose-built to meet the needs of a growing industry that is working to transform how cancer is treated. With a highly trained and dedicated team, we are thrilled to be building our flagship facility right here in Philadelphia.”
