Eckert & Ziegler inks ytterbium-176 supply deal

Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma, the production arm of isotope technology firm Eckert & Ziegler, has inked a supply deal with Atom Mines for the radiopharmaceutical ytterbium-176.

Ytterbium-176 is a necessary precursor to lutetium-177, which is used for many cancer therapies, according to the firm. But the world supply of ytterbium-176 has been limited.

Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma and Atom Mines have developed a new technology that can increase production of the isotope, which will allow for the manufacture of lutetium-177 in larger quantities, the company said.