21 Oct (NucNet): Canada is taking action to diversify its sources of the medical isotope technetium-99 (Tc-99m) with the funding of four research projects that aim to produce medical isotopes without using a nuclear reactor.
The federal government said the 35-million Canadian dollars (34 million US dollars, 24 million euro) investment will lay the groundwork for a more secure and sustainable supply of Tc-99m and a reduced reliance on reactor-based production.
The research projects are all being funded under the government’s Non-reactor-based Isotope Supply Contribution Programme.
The projects are aimed at the development of cyclotron and linear accelerator technologies. The Report of the Expert Review Panel on Medical Isotope Production, released in December 2009, recommended the diversification of the supply chain and highlighted the potential of cyclotron and linear accelerator technologies.
The projects were assessed according to technical and commercial criteria. The programme is part of a CAD 48-million investment in medical isotopes announced by the government in its 2010 budget.
The funding package also included CAD 10 million over two years to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a clinical trials network to help move research on isotopes and imaging technologies into clinical practice and CAD 3 million over two years to Health Canada to optimise the use of medical isotopes in the health system.
Christian Paradis, minister of natural resources, said the investment will help position Canada as a global leader in emerging isotope production technologies and help reduce the production of radioactive waste that results from reactor-based production.
The projects chosen for funding are being led by Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc., TRIUMF, Canadian Light Source and the Prairie Isotope Production Enterprise.
Tc-99m is used about 40 million times annually worldwide for cancer treatment and the diagnosis of heart attacks.
Five research reactors produce 95 percent of global supplies of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which is used to produce Tc-99m. The reactors are: the High-Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten in the Netherlands, BR2 in Belgium, Osiris in France, Safari in South Africa and the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Canada.
Supplies of Mo-99 have been hit because of the shutdown for maintenance and repairs of both the NRU and the HFR. Both units are now back online.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
European Production Of Medical Isotopes ‘Still Fragile’ Says Paper (News No. 66, 28 September 2009)
Agreement Aims To Boost Europe’s Long-Term Radioisotope Supply (News in Brief No. 156, 3 September 2010)
