Science

TAT – The Pillar of Next-Generation Cancer Treatment

Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) is a cutting-edge treatment that utilizes alpha-emitting isotopes (such as ²¹¹At and ²²⁵Ac) to selectively target and physically destroy cancer cells. This method involves administering a drug that combines these isotopes with ligands that specifically accumulate in cancerous tissues. TAT has shown significant effectiveness even in patients with metastatic cancer, garnering widespread attention.

TAT is unique for several reasons:

ーIt eliminates the need for specialized radiation therapy facilities, allowing patients to receive treatment without hospitalization.
ーThe dosage is at the microgram level, minimizing side effects associated with the ligands.
ーBy changing the ligands, TAT can be adapted to treat a variety of cancer types.

 

²¹¹At – A Promising Candidate in TAT

While there are several alpha-emitting isotopes currently under development, primarily in the US, such as ²²⁵Ac, we are particularly focused on ²¹¹At due to its unique and promising characteristics:

―²¹¹At is readily produced using easily obtainable Bismuth-209 as a raw material, and its production technology using cyclotrons is well-established, ensuring a stable supply.
―Being a halogen, it can be directly bonded to ligands without the need for a linker structure.
―Its short half-life of 7.2 hours allows rapid elimination of radiation from the body, minimizing side effects on normal tissues.
―Due to its short half-life, ²¹¹At allows for multiple administrations in a short period, potentially shortening the overall treatment duration.
―Unlike other alpha-emitting isotopes that decay continuously and emit alpha particles repeatedly, potentially redistributing in the body and affecting normal tissues, ²¹¹At emits alpha radiation only once and then stabilizes, avoiding this issue.
―Its short half-life also simplifies disposal procedures.