BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Battle of the alphas: lead-212 picks up speed in radiopharma

The ɑ-emitting radioisotope’s rapid decay has logistical drawbacks, but its supply could beat actinium-225’s on scale

July 22, 2024 11:06 PM UTC

Amid the rush to develop actinium-225 cancer therapies, more quiet momentum has built for another α-emitter, the shorter-lived lead-212.  

Proponents think lead-212 could have efficacy and safety advantages over acinium-225, and will emerge as the more reliable supply chain, but its more challenging just-in-time logistics have so far kept pharma from jumping in...