A landmark agreement between the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and cutting‑edge biotech firm Bicycle Therapeutics will enable the production of tens of thousands of doses of advanced cancer therapies each year, using hundreds of tonnes of reprocessed uranium from historic nuclear fuel processing.
The announcement marks a major breakthrough in both cancer treatment innovation and the UK’s ambition to lead a new era of nuclear‑powered medical science. Bicycle Therapeutics was co‑founded by Nobel Prize‑winning British scientist Sir Greg Winter, celebrated for his pioneering work in antibody engineering.
The partnership will see Bicycle use a novel process developed by the UK National Nuclear Laboratory to extract lead‑212, a highly valuable medical isotope, from reprocessed uranium.
Radiopharmaceuticals deliver targeted radiotherapy directly to cancer cells, destroying tumours while minimising damage to healthy tissue. They offer new hope for cancers that traditional treatments often struggle to treat, including prostate cancer and neuroendocrine cancers affecting organs such as the pancreas and gut.
Under the agreement, the NDA will provide Bicycle with access to up to 400 tonnes of reprocessed uranium over 15 years. Because reprocessed uranium continuously regenerates the necessary isotopes through natural radioactive decay, the supply will sustain the production of tens of thousands of doses of precision cancer therapy every year.
The extraction will be undertaken using a new radioisotope generator developed exclusively for Bicycle by medical isotope specialists Spectron Rx.
The partnership strengthens the UK’s wider mission to overhaul cancer diagnosis and treatment across the NHS. Over the last year alone, 110,000 more patients were diagnosed — or had cancer ruled out — within 28 days of an urgent GP or screening referral between November 2024 and October 2025, compared with the previous year.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation Minister, commented:
“Every breakthrough that gives patients and their loved ones new hope matters deeply – and this extraordinary partnership could be truly life-changing for people facing some of the hardest-to-treat cancers.
“I’m immensely proud that we’re backing partnerships like this, showcasing how British innovation can transform lives. By turning nuclear material into precision cancer treatments, we’re opening new frontiers in the fight against this deadly disease.
“This is exactly the kind of bold thinking that will help us build an NHS fit for the future – harnessing life sciences potential to improve care, save lives, and drive economic growth across the UK.”
Investments in new diagnostic hubs, digital infrastructure, and precision therapeutics form a central part of the government’s strategy to detect cancer earlier, treat it more effectively, and save more lives.
This initiative builds on the £20 million investment announced last month to support research into lead‑212 extraction by UKNNL and Medicines Discovery Catapult.
The partnership arrives amid renewed national momentum in nuclear science and technology. Recent government support for Sizewell C on the Suffolk coast and small modular reactors in North Wales reflects a growing focus on nuclear innovation for both clean energy and medical science.
Today’s agreement showcases how the UK can repurpose existing nuclear materials to drive life‑saving healthcare breakthroughs, reinforce national scientific leadership, and unlock entirely new capabilities in precision cancer therapy.
Image credit: iStock
