Telix Pharmaceuticals, the Melbourne, Australia-based radiopharmaceutical company with U.S. operations in Indianapolis, Indiana, will host production of a scarce cancer-research isotope at its RLS Radiopharmacies site in Trevose, near Philadelphia. The company and Ekalia, a joint venture between IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) and Framatome, announced on October 19, 2026 a collaboration to scale U.S. production of astatine-211 (²¹¹At). Astatine-211 is an alpha-emitting radioisotope being investigated for targeted alpha therapy (TAT).
“Owning the path from isotope to patient is central to our development and commercialization strategy. This collaboration gives Telix a dedicated, long-term source of astatine-211 to advance our alpha therapy pipeline, and demonstrates the strategic value of the RLS platform as a host for next-generation isotope production in the U.S.,” said Chad Watkins, General Manager, Isotope Strategy at Telix.
Building Alpha-Isotope Capacity Near Philadelphia
Under the agreement, an IBA alpha-beam cyclotron will be installed and operated at RLS Trevose. The companies say the site is meant to establish a reproducible production model. The framework also lets the partners evaluate more installations across the RLS network as demand for astatine-211 grows.
The collaboration draws on each partner’s strengths. IBA contributes its specialized alpha-beam cyclotron technology, and Framatome brings nuclear and isotope production expertise. Telix adds its U.S. radiopharmacy and “last-mile” infrastructure, along with its clinical portfolio and radiopharmaceutical development capabilities.
The deal extends into the U.S. a partnership IBA and Framatome formed in Europe to advance industrial-scale astatine-211 production. For Ekalia, the Trevose site is a step toward its first U.S. production unit:
“IBA’s specialized alpha-beam cyclotron technology is designed to enable reliable astatine-211 production at the point of need. Building on our work with Framatome in Europe, Telix’s U.S. infrastructure enables us to move faster towards establishing our first U.S. production unit, while laying the foundations for Ekalia’s broader development in the country,” said Bruno Scutnaire, CEO of Ekalia.
Why Astatine-211 Matters
According to Telix, citing published research, astatine-211 is considered a promising isotope for developing new cancer treatments. Its wider use is limited by a lack of production capacity, the company says.
The collaboration aims to improve access to astatine-211 for research and clinical development. It plans to do this through production sites located close to clinical centers.
What It Means for Telix’s Pipeline
The partnership secures long-term, priority isotope access for Telix’s alpha therapy programs. These include TLX102-Tx (²¹¹At astato-L-phenylalanine), an investigational TAT being evaluated for glioblastoma and leptomeningeal disease. The deal is also expected to support other early-stage astatine-211 candidates.
The site will also offer production capacity to third-party academic and industry programs. Telix says this will help expand the U.S. astatine-211 development ecosystem.
“We are delighted to partner with IBA and Framatome, two global leaders in this field, to help advance reliable, scalable astatine-211 production,” Watkins added.
About Telix Pharmaceuticals
Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited is headquartered in North Melbourne, Australia. Its business spans therapeutics, precision medicine, MedTech, and Telix Manufacturing Solutions. Its U.S. footprint includes the RLS Radiopharmacies network.
About Ekalia
Ekalia is a joint venture between IBA, a Belgium-based company listed on Euronext, and Framatome, based in France. The company is currently in formation.
