Sumitomo Corp. is expanding into the Asian cancer treatment sector by partnering with Wisconsin-based Shine Technologies, a US nuclear fusion startup that produces medical radioisotopes. The strategic alliance will establish reliable supply chains for Shine’s portfolio of products in Asian markets, including lutetium-177, a critical medical isotope used in targeted cancer therapies.
Shine, founded in 2005, has developed technology to safely generate lutetium-177 as part of its work on fusion power generation using deuterium and tritium. The company opened North America’s largest lutetium-177 production facility in Wisconsin in 2023, with initial capacity for 100,000 doses annually. When paired with cancer-seeking molecules, this radioisotope delivers targeted radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
Sumitomo brings valuable assets to the partnership, including its Sumitomo Pharma International subsidiary, which provides drug discovery support, and expertise in transporting radioactive materials. The trading house will serve as intermediary between Shine and pharmaceutical companies throughout Asia.
The collaboration extends beyond medical applications to include radioactive waste recycling and fusion power generation. For Sumitomo, which has previously invested in US-based TAE Technologies and partnered with UK’s Tokamak Energy, this latest deal strengthens its position in the emerging fusion power sector.
Nuclear fusion, which generates electricity from the energy released when atomic nuclei combine, offers potential advantages over fission, including easier material procurement, lower accident risks, and zero carbon emissions during operation. Despite these benefits, the technology faces significant hurdles to commercialization.
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