Production of Alpha Emitters for Targeted Alpha Therapy

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is a promising approach for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. The availability of suitable alpha emitting isotopes in clinically relevant amounts is a main prerequisite for further development of TAT and its widespread clinical application. Several alpha emitting isotopes have been proven effective in preclinical studies and/or clinical trials, including (225) Ac / Bi-213, U-230 / Th-226, Th-227 / Ra-223, Pb-212 / Bi-212, At-211 and Tb-149. Here we give an overview on methods for the production of these nuclides, describe advantages and limitations of the various processes and give an outlook on future availability and isotope supply.