NRG and Curium have signed a contract to produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten in the Netherlands. Mo-99 is the starting material for technetium-99m (Tc-99m) – the most commonly used isotope in nuclear medicine for diagnosing life-threatening diseases. As a result of this renewed collaboration, 30,000 patients per day can continue to rely on the production capacity for nuclear medicine in Petten, NRG said.
Approximately 49 million treatments are performed annually in patients with nuclear drugs, with Tc-99m being used in more than 80% of these studies. Both NRG and Curium are market leaders and therefore important links in the Tc-99m supply chain. NRG uses its HFR to produce the isotopes, which Curium then uses for its nuclear medicine products.
Vinod Ramnandanlal, CCO NRG Pallas said: "With this renewed collaboration, we are taking a big step to meet the continued demand and confirm our continued partnership. This is also very good news for the doctors and patients who need the isotopes." Frank de Lange, Managing Director Curium Netherlands, commented: "This multi-year agreement confirms our commitment to physicians and patients worldwide, building on our track record in nuclear medicine."
Image: The Petten High Flux Reactor in The Netherlands (courtesy of NRG)
