Bill Gates’ TerraPower Isotopes to build USD450M cancer isotope facility in Philadelphia

USA—Bill Gates-founded TerraPower Isotopes (TPI) has announced plans to invest USD 450 million in a new actinium-225 (ac-225) manufacturing facility in Philadelphia’s Bellwether District.

The company, which produces ac-225 from legacy U.S. nuclear material, aims to become the premier global distributor of this rare isotope used in cancer treatments.

The investment comes as interest in radiopharmaceutical drugs continues to surge, prompting companies to expand manufacturing capacity and secure supplies of radioactive isotopes.

TPI’s new East Coast plant will complement its existing facility in Everett, Washington, where the company is also expanding capacity.

Strategic location and economic impact

The Pennsylvania facility will span 250,000 square feet and is expected to begin production in 2029.

TPI evaluated more than 350 potential locations before selecting Philadelphia for its proximity to key infrastructure and the nearby life sciences ecosystem.

The state of Pennsylvania has contributed USD10 million to support the project.

The development will create 225 permanent positions over the next three years, along with approximately 500 construction jobs during the build-out phase.

These employment opportunities reflect the growing economic impact of the radiopharmaceutical sector.

Transforming Global Supply Capacity

Once both the Washington expansion and Philadelphia facility become operational, TPI expects to increase its production capacity twentyfold.

This dramatic scale-up would position the company as the world’s leading distributor of ac-225.

“This new facility is a testament to the demand for actinium-225 as part of the growing industry which is transforming how cancer is treated,” said Scott Claunch, TPI’s president.

Chris Levesque, TerraPower President and CEO, added that the plant will help increase global supply and expand access for researchers and drug developers advancing new cancer treatments.

Rising Interest in Next-Generation Isotopes

Radiopharmaceuticals combine a radioisotope with a targeting molecule to locate and destroy cancerous tissue.

While the field has attracted heavy research and development interest, commercial success has been limited.

Novartis currently leads the market with two approved radioligand therapies: Lutathera for neuroendocrine tumors and Pluvicto for prostate cancer, both utilizing lutetium-177 (Lu-177).

Industry experts view ac-225 as the next breakthrough in radiopharmaceutical development.

Sven Van Den Berghe, CEO of Belgian radiopharmaceutical company PanTera, described actinium-225 as “the next revolution” following lutetium-177, though it requires a completely different production approach.

Strategic partnerships driving growth

TPI has established partnerships to expand ac-225 availability globally.

The company partnered with PanTera in 2023 to combine production methods and increase supply.

Last June, TPI signed a supply agreement with Ratio Therapeutics to provide ac-225 for the biotech’s targeted cancer medicine pipeline.

Meanwhile, Novartis continues expanding its radiopharmaceutical footprint, announcing in February two new manufacturing facilities in Florida and Texas as part of its USD23 billion U.S. investment.