NEWSLINE HISTORY CORNER Archive Project and History Fund Frederic Fahey, DSc, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA s SNMMI historian, I would like to share some of the of Excellence, the SNMMI imple- ongoing projects as well as thoughts on ways in which mented the Saul Hertz Award, which Asome of these initiatives might be supported in the future. recognizes contributions in radionu- In 2015 we published a book, The Highlights Lectures clide therapy. The inaugural recipient 1981–2009, with summaries of the highlight presentations by was Steven M. Larson, MD, from Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, at SNM Annual Meetings during Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer this period. It is a fascinating look through almost 30 years of Center (MSKCC; New York, NY). history in our field as seen by one of our most beloved pioneers. At a special symposium in conjunc- This volume is available through the SNMMI bookstore at tion with this award, Wolfgang http://www.snmmi.org/Store/Bestsellers.aspx?metadataid584. A. Weber, MD, also from MSKCC, Two significant anniversaries were celebrated in 2016. introduced the awardee. Dr. Larson Frederic Fahey, DSc The first was the 40th anniversary of the first human imaging and Richard P. Baum, MD, with 18F-FDG. Joanna Fowler, PhD, presented the Henry N. PhD, from the Zentralklinik Wagner, Jr., Lecture at the opening plenary session of the Bad Berka (Germany), pre- 2016 SNMMI Annual Meeting and wonderfully summarized sented lectures on thera- the activities leading up to this landmark event. She focused nostics. Barbara Hertz, on the groundbreaking work of Alfred P. Wolf, PhD, at the Dr. Hertz’s daughter, Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY), and the lab’s attended the symposium. collaboration with the group under David E. Kuhl, MD, at the The SNMMI Development University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). As a participant in Department, led by Larry the events, Dr. Fowler provided an exciting and insightful Dilworth and Teresa Ellmer, overview of the extraordinary logistics and coordination re- worked with Ms. Hertz on quired in 1976 to prepare the imaging agent in Brookhaven an exhibit honoring her fa- and deliver it to Penn for first-in-human imaging. ther as part of the SNMMI The year 2016 also marked the 75th anniversary of the first development booth at the radioiodine treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital Annual Meeting. This 20- (Boston, MA) by Saul Hertz, MD. In 1938, the John and panel exhibit included let- This volume, released at the Mary R. Markle Foundation of New York (NY) had provided ters exchanged between SNMMI 2016 Annual Meeting, funding for the cyclotron that supplied radioiodine for the 1941 Dr. Hertz and Karl Compton, contains the annual highlights treatment. SNMMI contacted the Markle Foundation, which PhD, president of the lectures delivered by Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, from 1981 graciously provided funds to help support the anniversary Massachusetts Institute of to 2009. celebration of the first radioiodine treatment. The History Technology at the time; Session at the Annual Meeting (our 7th in the series) focused pages from Dr. Hertz’s lab notebook documenting his first on the history of radionuclide therapy. Rodney J. Hicks, patients; and testimonies from grateful radioiodine therapy MBBS, MD, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre recipients. (Melbourne, Australia), gave an informative and entertaining The Wall of Remembrance, which was introduced a presentation on medical uses of radium, from early use of few years ago to commemorate notable members who 226Ra to the more recent development of 223Ra-dichloride have passed away in the past 5 years, was displayed and (Xofigo) for treatment of bone metastases in prostate cancer. very well received at the SNMMI 2016 Annual Meeting. Frederick D. Grant, MD, from Boston Children’s Hospital SNMMI has consulted over the past year with a (MA), discussed the events leadingtoDr.Hertz’swork. professional archivist on organization of the materials in Edward Silberstein, MD, of the University of Cincinnati Col- the current SNMMI historical archive and on development lege of Medicine (OH), courageously covered all other radio- of a plan for moving forward. The goal was to detail a clear nuclides used for therapy over the years. This fascinating strategy for the most efficient and effective approach to session was presented to a full room of receptive attendees. preserving these materials and making them available to a Working with the SNMMI Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council and the newly formed Radionuclide Therapy Center (Continued on page 20N) Newsline 19N SNMMI LEADERSHIP UPDATE FDA Approval of Imaging Agents: An Exciting Investment NEWSLINE in Nuclear Medicine Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, SNMMI President ith the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration reader training for both Axumin (FDA) approval of 2 new PET diagnostic drugs, and NETSPOT that is available for WAxumin (fluciclovine 18F injection), for detecting free online. biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, and NETSPOT As this issue of the magazine (68Ga-dotatate injection), for localization of somatostatin goes to print, we are awaiting word receptor–positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in adult and on FDA approval of Lutathera pediatric patients, the field of nuclear medicine and molecular (177Lu-dotatate), which was granted imaging is beginning the new year on a high note. priority review in June last year, The approval of these PET diagnostic drugs is especially with a decision set for December good news for patients. In addition to providing improved 28, 2016. Lutathera is a new pep- imaging, NETSPOT delivers a lower radiation dose than the tide-receptor radionuclide therapy Sally W. Schwarz, SPECT alternative for NET imaging, which makes it more (PRRT) that targets neuroendocrine MS, RPh, BCNP convenient. The SPECT study can require up to 72 hours, carcinoid tumors with radiolabeled somatostatin analogue whereas NETSPOT provides results within 2 hours. Axumin peptides. Lutathera would work in tandem with NET- offers the availability of an 18F-labeled PET diagnostic for SPOT—first diagnosis of the target cancer tissue using NET- prostate cancer recurrence that can be produced offsite and SPOT, then delivery of the PRRT to cancer cells identified by distributed to a larger number of hospitals than the currently NETSPOT. Such companion diagnostics are truly the future approved 11C diagnostic. In addition, local Centers for Medi- of personalized medicine! care & Medicaid Services reimbursement for both Axumin Once Lutathera is approved, the Therapy Center of and NETSPOT followed their FDA approval, so patients can Excellence will conduct outreach to referring physicians immediately benefit from use of these PET drugs. and has already planned an educational session for the 2017 I am pleased to report that SNMMI’s Clinical Trials SNMMI Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. Network (CTN) was instrumental in the approval process The effectiveness of these new imaging agents and their for both Axumin and NETSPOT—helping with some of the success in gaining FDA approval and reimbursement hold key components of the Axumin trial (e.g., providing reader promise for further investment in nuclear medicine and training) and facilitating a shortened regulatory review for molecular imaging. In turn, more physicians and scientists NETSPOT. will be encouraged to pursue a molecular imaging career SNMMI’s Nuclear Medicine Clinical Trial Group, LLC, path. The future is, indeed, bright for our field! assists sponsors with effectively incorporating molecu- I wish everyone a happy, productive new year and look lar imaging agents in multicenter trials through a vari- forward to working with you to expand the frontiers of mole- ety of proven CTN-developed tools. It has developed cular imaging and provide ever more effective health care. (Continued from page 19N) wider audience of interested scholars and researchers. It is support needed to move into the next phase of our archive clear that this effort will require a long-term investment of plan as well as for long-term storage and management of time and dollars. As a result, SNMMI, in collaboration with these materials. The Heritage Campaign will be launched in the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine early 2017, and SNMMI members will be kept informed of and Molecular Imaging, is developing a Heritage Fundraising opportunities to participate. Campaign for both the short and long terms. The expectation Please visit our website at www.snmmi.org/history, and do is for the Heritage Campaign to raise funds from individuals, not hesitate to contact me ([email protected]) with any corporate partners, and foundations that will provide the questions or comments. 20N THE JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE • Vol. 58 • No. 1 • January 2017.