NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes and BWXT Medical Ltd., have signed a master services agreement that will facilitate the production of actinium-225 (Ac-225), a medical isotope used to kill cancer cells while minimizing the impact to healthy tissues, the company announced recently.

According to a release, the agreement is multi-year and both companies will work together to process and purify radium-226 that will be irradiated to produce Ac-225. The agreement also includes potential target design projects and exploration of opportunities to provide backup supply to each other’s customers.

“This agreement could be instrumental to the radiopharmaceutical industry and patient health,” NorthStar President and CEO Dr. Frank Scholz said in a statement. “We are excited to collaborate with BWXT on actinium production and believe our complementary technical capabilities will play a critical role in bringing novel therapies to patients who so urgently need them.”

BWXT Medical manufactures custom radiopharmaceuticals, radiotherapies and medical isotopes.

The cost of the agreement was not disclosed.