The acquisition enhances SHINE’s distribution channels and strengthens access to more reliable medical isotopes.
SHINE Technologies, a nuclear fusion company with a platform of medical isotope products, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the SPECT business from Lantheus, a radiopharmaceutical-focused company.
The acquisition will include the portion of the North Billerica, Massachusetts, campus that manufactures Lantheus’ SPECT products. By combining SHINE’s fusion-based isotope manufacturing technology with Lantheus’ established market channels, the transaction aims to strengthen SHINE’s leadership in the nuclear medicine market.
“Our companies have a long history of partnership, and we have admired Lantheus’ commitment to ensuring patient access to essential medical radioisotopes. By integrating Lantheus’ SPECT business and talented team with our company, we will expand our product portfolio, accelerate our path to market for our planned suite of isotopes and increase our market share—ultimately ensuring greater access to these life-saving products for patients,” says Greg Piefer, founder and CEO of SHINE, in a release.
Expanding Isotope Production Capabilities
For nearly 70 years, Lantheus has provided the nuclear medicine market with diagnostic radiopharmaceutical products. The company is a market leader in US production of technetium-99 (Tc-99), a medical isotope used in nuclear medicine imaging procedures. Lantheus’ SPECT product portfolio includes imaging agents for the heart, lung, thyroid, bladder, and more.
Chrysalis, SHINE’s large-scale irradiation facility, is set to become the largest isotope production facility in the world. Once operational, Chrysalis will complement the existing supply chain, ensuring a sustainable and reliable source of isotopes, including Mo-99, the world’s most widely-used isotope, and Lu-177, the most widely cancer cancer-fighting isotope.
Last year, SHINE opened one of the largest facilities in the western hemisphere dedicated to producing non-carrier-added lutetium-177. The facility has a production capacity of up to 100,000 doses of Lu-177 per year, with the ability to further expand to 200,000 doses per year.
“We are confident that SHINE’s expertise in isotope production as well as their commitment to growth and patient access position them well to continue our legacy with the SPECT business as we focus on advancing and expanding our pipeline of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics,” says Brian Markison, CEO of Lantheus, in a release. “SHINE’s interest in our SPECT business underscores the dedication and knowledge of our employees who have been instrumental to its decades-long success at Lantheus, and we thank our talented team for their contributions.”
Photo caption: Chrysalis, SHINE’s large-scale irradiation facility
Photo credit: SHINE Technologies
