By Uriah Orland
March 9, 2026
Contact: Uriah Orland, 573-884-5139, uriah.orland@missouri.edu
The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) is making its no-carrier-added Lutetium-177 (NCA Lu-177) product available to the world.
Having established itself over the last several years as the premier U.S. supplier of the medical isotope, this is the first time MURR’s NCA Lu-177 product will be available to the global marketplace. The GMP product is produced 52 weeks per year and will be available to research, clinical and commercial customers.
Lutetium-177 is a reactor-produced medical radioisotope which has proven effective in targeted cancer therapies. Radiopharmaceuticals containing Lu-177 deliver precise, high-energy radiation directly to tumors by emitting therapeutic beta particles to treat disease.
MURR is the largest university-operated research reactor in the United States and has a distinguished track record in the development and supply of critical radioisotopes. Annually, MURR produces more than 30 different isotopes for research, education and industry, and has extensive experience with worldwide distribution of therapeutic medical isotopes.
“There is a growing demand for Lutetium-177 for research, clinical trials and commercial products as more cancer fighting drugs are developed,” Matt Sanford, executive director, said. “MURR is the only end-to-end producer of Lu-177 in the United States, and we are expanding our focus. In addition to supplying commercial quantities of NCA Lu-177 for use in FDA-approved drugs, we will now meet the needs of researchers and clinical-stage companies.”
Beyond supplying NCA Lu-177 and other emerging medical isotopes, MURR also supports researchers and startups through its Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Center and on-campus partners such as radiochemists, veterinary oncologists and the entire bench-to-bedside team at Mizzou. On-site spaces in Columbia, Missouri, are available for lease and allow MURR to offer a range of support services to its partners, from pre-clinical development through commercialization.
“MURR is uniquely positioned to fulfill the expanding needs of the radiopharmaceutical research community, with the reactor at the center of it all.” Kevin Staton, director of business development at MURR, said. “The growing ecosystem in Columbia combines supply of critical isotopes like Lu-177, pre-clinical drug development, clinical translation and on-site clinical trials all on one campus.”
