BOSTON — Perceptive Discovery has expanded its radiopharmaceutical development capabilities to support studies involving astatine-211 (At-211) at its facilities in the United States and United Kingdom, becoming the first U.S. provider to offer such services, according to the company.
The expansion builds on Perceptive Discovery’s strategic collaboration with Atley Solutions and is intended to provide biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with specialized infrastructure and scientific expertise for developing targeted alpha therapies.
At the company’s laboratory at Queen Mary University of London, the first Atley C100 automated manufacturing module has been installed and successfully tested. The system was used to purify astatine-211 from an irradiated bismuth-209 target.
In the United States, Perceptive Discovery has secured access to astatine-211 supplied in solution from multiple sources, allowing it to begin supporting research programs immediately.
The company also plans to install a second Atley C100 module at its Needham, Massachusetts, facility later this month, further expanding its domestic radiopharmaceutical development infrastructure.
Astatine-211 is an emerging alpha-emitting radioactive isotope being investigated for use in targeted cancer therapies. These treatments are designed to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Despite its therapeutic potential, the development of astatine-211-based medicines has been constrained by limited isotope availability, specialized manufacturing requirements and the need for advanced radiochemistry expertise.
Perceptive Discovery said its expanded services will allow pharmaceutical developers to combine astatine-211 research with the company’s existing preclinical and translational development capabilities.
These include radiolabeling of proteins, peptides and small molecules, analytical characterization, preclinical imaging, biodistribution studies, radiation dosimetry and efficacy testing.
“The ability to execute At-211 studies across our UK and US operations represents an important expansion of what we can offer sponsors developing targeted alpha therapies,” said Ben Murphy, CEO of Perceptive Discovery.
“The installation and successful testing of the first Atley C100 module marks an important milestone in our collaboration with Atley,” Murphy added.
He said combining access to the isotope with the company’s expertise in radiochemistry, oncology models, imaging and translational research could help drug developers generate the data needed to advance experimental therapies toward clinical trials.
The Atley C100 is an automated manufacturing platform designed specifically for astatine-211 radiopharmaceutical development.
Its installation in London, along with the planned deployment in Needham, is expected to provide additional research and manufacturing infrastructure for biotechnology companies exploring targeted alpha therapies.
“The availability of these systems marks an important next step in our collaboration with Perceptive Discovery,” said Milton Lönnroth, CEO of Atley Solutions.
“Establishing dedicated At-211 infrastructure in the US and UK expands access for developers and helps create the foundation needed to advance the next generation of At-211 radiopharmaceuticals,” Lönnroth added.
Perceptive Discovery said it is now accepting inquiries from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies seeking astatine-211 development services at its U.S. and U.K. locations.
