Actinide Inc., a company based in Plano, has developed a method to produce Ytterbium-176, a material with applications in both oncology and energy sectors. The firm utilizes a particle accelerator called Endurance to create the isotope by converting metal into plasma and accelerating it through magnetic fields. According to the company, the material commands a price of approximately $30,000 per gram.
The production of Ytterbium-176 supports the development of radio pharmaceuticals, a class of cancer treatments that deliver radiation directly to malignant cells. Novartis, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, employs this isotope to create targeted therapies designed to destroy cancer cells from within the body. Eric Olszewski, the chief executive of Actinide Inc., described the isotope as a precursor material for this emerging wave of cancer therapeutics.
In addition to medical applications, the company’s accelerator technology is capable of producing High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium, or HALEU. This fuel type is intended for use in small-format nuclear reactors. Olszewski stated that the team successfully created this next-generation fuel at an experimental scale to demonstrate the underlying technology.
The company is currently focused on expanding its manufacturing capabilities. Actinide Inc. aims to increase its output of Ytterbium-176 from the current gram scale to the kilogram level. Leadership, including Olszewski and business partner Robert Mendelsohn, indicated that scaling up production is intended to reduce dependence on foreign sources for these critical materials.
