May 24 2010
Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, today announced that it has received additional supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) to produce vital medical isotopes for its TechneLite® (Technetium Tc99m Generator) generators as the result of a recent agreement between the Institute for Radioelements (IRE), Fleurus, Belgium, and the Nuclear Research Institute (NRI), Rez, Czech Republic.
Mo-99 is the parent isotope of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the most widely used medical radioisotope in the world for molecular and nuclear diagnostic imaging procedures. Lantheus gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use of this new material and has already distributed it in the United States.
“We commend IRE on its commitment to expanding its network of research reactors to include the NRI Rez reactor in the Czech Republic, and we welcome the additional supply of Mo-99 that this collaboration is making available, particularly during this global shortage of medical isotopes,” said Don Kiepert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. “As part of Lantheus’ commitment to diversifying our supply chain, we have worked closely with both IRE and NRI to facilitate the approval of Rez-sourced product in the United States. Additionally, Lantheus has worked closely with the U.S. FDA in qualifying the product so that we could supply our customers with TechneLite® generators loaded with Mo-99 from this new source, within 24 hours of receiving it at our facilities earlier this week.”
The Czech Nuclear Research Institute’s (UJV) LVR-15 research reactor, located near Prague, was built in the mid-1950s and was substantially upgraded and modernized in the late 1980s. It is the latest addition to the global supply chain for medical isotopes, which includes, among others, research reactors in Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Belgium, France, Poland, Australia and Argentina. Reactors in Canada and the Netherlands are currently offline while undergoing repairs, which has led to a worldwide shortage of Mo-99. The collaboration between IRE and NRI Rez is expected to increase Lantheus’ supply and could play a significant role in Mo-99 access in the coming months, when many global reactors are expected to be down for repairs or routine maintenance.
“As a leader in the nuclear medicine community, we continue to explore all possible avenues to address the ongoing global Mo-99 shortage and remain dedicated to working with organizations worldwide to diversify our supply chain,” added William Dawes, Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. “We are working diligently to find new solutions to the ongoing shortage to meet the needs of patients and the nuclear medicine community, with the goal of mitigating the effects this shortage has on necessary medical imaging procedures and patient care. Lantheus is focused on building a globally diverse supply chain for Mo-99. This new supply and recent approval is an excellent example of how our efforts and those of our suppliers are paying off for the patients that our industry serves.”