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Copper Users Group

Copper User’s Group: Expanding Access to Copper Radiotheranostics

Copper User’s Group unites isotope producers, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners to expand reliable access to Cu-61/Cu-64/Cu-67 radiotheranostics. We share data, coordinate supply, and accelerate clinical adoption of copper-based diagnostics and therapies. Join us in collaborating on scalable production and real-world use. Get involved! Contact us at: copper@nuclidium.com.

Want to Help Advance Copper Radiotheranostics?

Join the Copper User’s Group to receive updates on copper theranostic developments, supply initiatives, and upcoming events. Fill out the form below or contact us at copper@nuclidium.com.  We look forward to collaborating with you.

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    Copper’s Unique Position
    in Precision Medicine

    Copper radioisotopes have physical properties making them suitable for both PET imaging and radioligand therapy. Their chelator-based chemistry allows for fast radiolabelling with high radiochemical yields.

    • Ahmedova, A., Todorov, B., Burdzhiev, N., & Goze, C. (2018). Copper radiopharmaceuticals for theranostic applications. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 157, 1406-1425.
    • Kręcisz, P., Stefańska, K., Studziński, J., Pitucha, M., Czylkowska, A., & Szymański, P. (2025). Radiocopper in radiopharmacy and medical use: Current status and perspective. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 68(3), 2356-2376.
    • Wadas, T. J., Wong, E. H., Weisman, G. R., & Anderson, C. J. (2007). Copper chelation chemistry and its role in copper radiopharmaceuticals. Current pharmaceutical design, 13(1), 3-16.

    61Cu

    Copper-61 (61Cu) is a cyclotron-produced positron emitter offering a β⁺ branching ratio of 61% and a mean positron energy of 524 keV, providing exceptional image quality for PET diagnostics. Its physical half-life of 3.3 hours (200 minutes) allows for efficient regional distribution from production centers. It supports both same-day imaging and flexible delayed protocols, which are especially helpful for detecting metastatic lesions. The solid-target method enables large-scale batch production, and its relatively high branching ratio means only moderate activity is needed per patient dose, simplifying logistics and reducing unnecessary radiation exposure. These advantages ensure copper-61 is well-positioned to support cost-effective, accessible cancer imaging across a wide clinical network.

    Figure: In a first-in-human study on NET tumours, the diagnostic radiopharmaceutical [61Cu]Cu-NODAGA-LM3 revealed more metastases than the standard of care, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC. Reference: Nicolas et al., 2025.

    • Nicolas, G. P., Lafont, M. A., McDougall, L., Kaul, F., Chirindel, A., Weber, W., … & Wild, D. (2025). First-in-human administration of [61Cu] Cu-NODAGA-LM3 and head-to-head comparison with [68Ga] Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT as part of the phase I/II COPPER PET in NET study. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 1-3.
    • Fani, M., & Nicolas, G. P. (2023). 61Cu-labeled radiotracers: alternative or choice?. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 64(12), 1855.
    • Basaco Bernabeu, T., Mansi, R., Del Pozzo, L., Gaonkar, R. H., McDougall, L., Johayem, A., … & Fani, M. (2024). Copper-61 is an advantageous alternative to gallium-68 for PET imaging of somatostatin receptor-expressing tumors: a head-to-head comparative preclinical study. Frontiers in Nuclear Medicine, 4, 1481343.

    64Cu

    Copper-64 (64Cu) is a versatile theranostic radionuclide that emits both positrons (β⁺) for PET imaging and β⁻ particles for potential therapeutic use. Its physical half-life of 12.7 hours is substantially longer than fluorine-18 or gallium-68, making it particularly well-suited for imaging slow-clearing biomolecules such as antibodies and larger targeting vectors, where longer biological circulation times must be matched to radionuclide decay. This extended half-life enables accurate whole-body distribution studies and late-timepoint imaging and allows for centralized production and broad clinical distribution. Copper-64 provides an integrated platform for patient selection, dosimetry, and treatment monitoring by combining diagnostic and therapeutic emissions in one isotope.

    • Anderson, C. J., & Ferdani, R. (2009). Copper-64 radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging of cancer: advances in preclinical and clinical research. Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, 24(4), 379-393.
    • Gutfilen, B., Souza, S. A., & Valentini, G. (2018). Copper-64: a real theranostic agent. Drug design, development and therapy, 3235-3245.
    • Boschi, A., Martini, P., Janevik-Ivanovska, E., & Duatti, A. (2018). The emerging role of copper-64 radiopharmaceuticals as cancer theranostics. Drug Discovery Today, 23(8), 1489-1501.

    67Cu

    Copper-67 (67Cu) is a β⁻-emitting therapeutic radionuclide and the ideal partner to the imaging isotopes 61Cu and 64Cu, sharing identical chemistry for seamless theranostic pairing. Its half-life of 2.58 days and slightly higher mean β⁻ and γ energies compared to 177Lu make it well-suited for targeted radioligand therapy, including hypofractionated regimens that reduce the burden on hospitals, caregivers, and patients. The combination of moderate radiation emission, SPECT-imageable gamma photons (93 and 185 keV), and optimal decay kinetics supports effective treatment monitoring and dosimetry. At the same time, the physical half-life is also compatible with peptide and small-molecule-based targeting and distribution to centers. Centralized cyclotron or photo-nuclear accelerator production, scalable batch quantities, and established chelation chemistry enable reliable clinical supply for both radioligand therapy and personalized cancer care.

    • Krasnovskaya, O. O., Abramchuck, D., Erofeev, A., Gorelkin, P., Kuznetsov, A., Shemukhin, A., & Beloglazkina, E. K. (2023). Recent advances in 64Cu/67Cu-based radiopharmaceuticals. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(11), 9154.
    • Merrick, M. J., Rotsch, D. A., Tiwari, A., Nolen, J., Brossard, T., Song, J., … & Graves, S. A. (2021). Imaging and dosimetric characteristics of 67 Cu. Physics in Medicine & Biology, 66(3), 035002.
    • Mou, L., Martini, P., Pupillo, G., Cieszykowska, I., Cutler, C. S., & Mikołajczak, R. (2022). 67Cu production capabilities: A mini review. Molecules, 27(5), 1501.

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