UK to tap 440 tons of spent nuclear fuel for cancer treatment doses

The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has partnered with Cambridge-based biotech firm Bicycle Therapeutics in a 15-year agreement to utilize 440 tons of reprocessed uranium from spent nuclear fuel for extracting the medical isotope lead-212 (212Pb). This isotope is vital for radiopharmaceuticals, which deliver targeted radiation therapy directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Bicycle Therapeutics will collaborate with the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) to apply advanced chemical extraction techniques to isolate trace amounts of lead-212’s parent material, Thorium-228, from the reprocessed uranium. This parent material is then converted into Radium-224 and used in a bespoke lead-212 generator developed with SpectronRx, enabling a sustainable and regenerative supply of the isotope for cancer treatments. The regenerative nature of the reprocessed uranium supply means it can provide enough lead-212 for tens of thousands of precision therapy doses annually, potentially revolutionizing treatment for difficult cancers such as certain prostate