A Medical Device Daily

Isonics (Golden, Colorado) reported the first delivery of Actinium-225, a promising cancer-fighting radioisotope, to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH; both Bethesda, Maryland). Scientists at the NIH have informed Isonics that the initial evaluation of Actinium was satisfactory.

The isotope Bismuth-213, the radioactive decay product of Actinium-225, has shown promising results in research into new treatments for two deadly cancers, lymphoma and leukemia, the company said.

Despite early evidence suggesting powerful efficacy of Bismuth-213 treatment for a range of cancers and other serious disease, medical research has in the past been slowed by the short supply and high costs of available Actinium-225.

Through its Life Sciences division, Isonics recently entered into an agreement with the Russian-based Institute for Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) to significantly boost worldwide supplies of the scarce isotope. Under the agreement, Isonics will provide financial support to increase IPPE's production capacity.

Isonics has received exclusive marketing and sales rights for all of the Actinium-225 produced by IPPE. Assuming that IPPE reaches target production levels over the next year, Isonics expects that this will nearly double the existing global supply of Actinium-225.

Current research includes clinical trials for therapies for leukemia and lymphoma. Numerous preclinical results have been published demonstrating the potential application of Bismuth-213 as a therapeutic for metastatic disease and bone marrow transplant, as well as treatments of fungal and bacterial infection.

Medical researchers welcomed the projected Actinium supply increases. “Clinical results to date have looked very promising, but lack of availability of the isotope Actinium-225 and the present high cost for that which is available has greatly limited the research,“ said Dr. Barbara Croft of the National Cancer Institute. “I am greatly encouraged that Isonics is working with IPPE to expand availability of Actinium-225, which will enable a greater number of promising research projects to proceed.“

Isonics is focused on the development of next-generation technology for the homeland security and semiconductor markets and is provider of isotopes for the imaging and treatment of cancer.

Apptis (Chantilly, Virginia) reported winning a $19 million contract with the Air Force Air Education and Train- ing Command (AETC) at Randolph Air Force Base (San Antonio) to provide information (IT) technology support services at four of the command's medical treatment facilities. The contract was awarded through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Under the four-year project, Apptis through its NetCare program will provide IT enterprise support services for medical technology at Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC), Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio); Keesler Air Force Base (Biloxi, Mississippi); Columbus Air Force Base (Columbus, Mississippi); and Tyndall Air Force Base (Panama City, Florida).

“We look forward to helping the AETC develop a consistent command wide IT support program and to enhance the support of the enterprise-wide legacy and newly deployed applications and systems,“ said Gloria Kosman, general manager of Apptis Healthcare.