Canada-based Laurentis Energy Partners,a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Colibri Isotopes Corporation (Colibri) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore use of Laurentis technology to irradiate isotopes. Texas-based Colibri, specialises in producing radiopharmaceuticals.
Under the MOU, the two companies will advance discussions to use Laurentis’s proprietary Target Delivery System (TDS), developed in partnership with BWXT Medical, to irradiate Colibri’s patented new target, allowing for unmatched yields of high-quality medical isotopes. Colibri will use its advanced technology to process these isotopes for the commercial market.
Laurentis’s TDS is installed at the unit 2 Candu reactor at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The TDS is an isotope irradiation system specifically engineered to take advantage of the unique design of Candu reactors. Using this system, Laurentis produces and harvests isotopes while the nuclear reactor remains online without disrupting power generation.
Laurentis currently uses the TDS to produce molybdenum-99, which transforms to technetium-99 metastable (Tc-99m). Medical professionals use Tc-99m in more than 40m procedures a year to detect illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Laurentis will also use its TDS from mid-2025 to produce yttrium-90 (Y-90), an injected radiopharmaceutical used for treatment of advanced liver cancer and other large inoperable tumours.
“We are excited to use Laurentis’s advanced TDS technology to achieve unprecedented yields of high-quality medical isotopes,” said Alexander Khasin, Founder of Colibri Isotopes. “When combined with the unique capabilities of Colibri’s patented target technology, the TDS opens up new production possibilities to address the shortage of crucial isotopes in the fight against cancer. This collaboration will provide the medical community with the resources needed to enhance treatment outcomes and save lives.”
Jason Van Wart, President and CEO of Laurentis, noted: “As a company with experience, expertise and cutting-edge technology at our fingertips, we have a responsibility to advance the production of life-saving medical isotopes for the global medical community. We look forward to working with Colibri to pursue the opportunity to irradiate a long-term reliable supply of high quality, life-saving medical isotopes.”
Researched and written by Judith Perera
