Niowave starts $75M radioisotope plant

Why it matters

Niowave has started building a second radioisotope production facility in Lansing, Michigan, a $75 million expansion aimed at increasing output of Actinium-225, a scarce isotope used in targeted cancer therapies. The company announced the groundbreaking on May 21 and said the site is expected to begin operating in 2028. (prnewswire.com) The project follows two supply agreements Niowave signed within the last six months with AstraZeneca and Novartis, both of which are building radiopharmaceutical pipelines that need dependable isotope supply. (niowaveinc.com) The new plant adds manufacturing capacity at a moment when drugmakers are moving beyond radiopharmaceutical research into larger clinical and commercial plans. Niowave said the facility will include multiple proprietary superconducting linear accelerators as well as processing and quality systems designed for scalable Actinium-225 production. (prnewswire.com) The company said the expansion will create about 70 jobs in research and development, engineering and quality assurance. ### Why is Actinium-225 drawing this kind of investment? Actinium-225 is an alpha-emitting isotope used in targeted cancer therapies that are designed to deliver radiation directly to tumors while limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue, according to Niowave and industry coverage. Niowave said global supply remains limited even as interest from biopharmaceutical companies has risen. (prnewswire.com) Fierce Pharma reported that Actinium-225 differs from isotopes used in approved Novartis radiotherapies such as Lutathera and Pluvicto, which rely on lutetium, a beta emitter. Niowave Chief Executive Mike Zamiara said on May 21 that “Actinium-225 has the potential to transform cancer treatment,” linking the new plant directly to the company’s ability to deliver more of the isotope. That language tracks with the company’s earlier statements that reliable and scalable isotope supply is becoming a gating factor for next-generation radiopharmaceutical programs. (prnewswire.com) ### Which customer deals are driving the expansion? AstraZeneca expanded its existing Niowave supply agreement in December 2025 into a 10-year commitment for Actinium-225 after exercising an option to increase capacity, Niowave said at the time. The company said that agreement was intended to support AstraZeneca’s radioconjugate portfolio. (niowaveinc.com) Novartis signed a separate long-term supply agreement with Niowave on Feb. 11, 2026, for Actinium-225 to support its radioligand therapy programs for difficult-to-treat cancers, according to Niowave. Financial terms of both agreements were not disclosed in the materials reviewed. (prnewswire.com) ### What exactly is Niowave building in Lansing? The Lansing site will be Niowave’s second dedicated production facility there, according to the company. Niowave said construction is being led by The Christman Company in collaboration with Colliers Engineering & Design. The plant will house multiple superconducting linear accelerators, plus processing and quality systems needed to turn isotope production into repeatable supply for drug developers. (niowaveinc.com) Fierce Pharma reported the project is located at Niowave’s campus in the Capital Region Airport Authority technology complex in Lansing. Niowave said the investment also expands domestic supply of Actinium-225, a point that matters because isotope production requires specialized infrastructure and handling rather than conventional pharmaceutical manufacturing alone. (niowaveinc.com) ### What happens next? Niowave said the facility is expected to become operational in 2028. The company has already tied the plant to its growing partner base, saying the site is meant to support global demand for Actinium-225 and other medical isotopes. The next concrete milestones are construction progress in Lansing and execution of the AstraZeneca and Novartis supply agreements as those radiopharmaceutical programs advance. (fiercepharma.com) (prnewswire.com)

Key numbers

• Niowave said on May 21 it broke ground on a $75 million production facility in Lansing, Michigan, to expand Actinium-225 supply.
• (prnewswire.com) The clearest demand signal is two recent supply deals: a 10-year expanded AstraZeneca agreement in December 2025 and a Novartis pact in February 2026.
• (niowaveinc.com) The Lansing plant is due online in 2028, with The Christman Company leading construction and about 70 jobs planned.
• (prnewswire.com) Niowave has started building a second radioisotope production facility in Lansing, Michigan, a $75 million expansion aimed at increasing output of Actinium-225, a scarce isotope used in targeted cancer therapies.

What happens next

• The company announced the groundbreaking on May 21 and said the site is expected to begin operating in 2028.
• (niowaveinc.com) The new plant adds manufacturing capacity at a moment when drugmakers are moving beyond radiopharmaceutical research into larger clinical and commercial plans.
• Niowave said the facility will include multiple proprietary superconducting linear accelerators as well as processing and quality systems designed for scalable Actinium-225 production.

Sources

• prnewswire.com
• niowaveinc.com
• niowaveinc.com
• fiercepharma.com

Quick answers