The Low Institute for Therapeutics (LIFT) and NorthStar have entered a strategic collaboration to advance Lu‑177‑LT17, a novel radioligand therapy for patients with cancer-associated bone disease, including hematologic malignancies and metastatic solid tumors. The partnership is intended to support development and clinical translation of the candidate toward first-in-human studies.
Under the agreement, NorthStar will provide integrated radiopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing capabilities for Lu‑177‑LT17, including isotope radiolabeling of LT17, analytical development, and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing. This work will support key translational and regulatory milestones aimed at an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, after which NorthStar will supply clinical material for planned Phase I trials.
Lu‑177‑LT17 is described as a highly targeted radioligand therapy designed to deliver therapeutic radioisotopes selectively to cancer-induced bone lesions while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The program aligns with broader efforts in precision oncology and targeted radioligand therapies that are moving toward wider clinical use.
“Our collaboration with LIFT reinforces NorthStar's position as a preferred contract development and manufacturing partner across the radiopharmaceutical ecosystem, including with nonprofit and academic-led programs,” said Frank Scholz, PhD, president and CEO of NorthStar. He said combining NorthStar’s end-to-end CDMO capabilities with LIFT’s research model is intended to help move new therapies closer to patients.
Stewart Low, PhD, executive director of LIFT, said the institute was founded to advance discoveries from Purdue University into therapies for patients and cited Lu‑177‑LT17 as an example of that mission. He said partnering with NorthStar provides the expertise and infrastructure needed to move Lu‑177‑LT17 into the clinic.
For NorthStar, the collaboration extends its role as an integrated radiopharmaceutical partner supporting early development, isotope production and supply, and cGMP manufacturing for emerging programs. The company’s vertically integrated infrastructure is designed to support radiopharmaceutical development, scale-up, and long-term commercialization within a coordinated operational framework.