JSC V/O Izotop, together with the VG Khlopin Radium Institute (part of the scientific division of Rosatom) and the AM Granova Russian Scientific Centre of Radiology & Surgical Technologies (RNTsRKT – Rossiiskovo Nauchnovo Tsentra Radiologii I Kirurgicheskikh Tekhnologii) has resumed weekly supplies of the radiopharmaceutical drug 123I-MIBG to medical institutions in Moscow. 123I-MIBG (methaiodobenzylguanidine) is a noradrenaline analogue, labelled with radioactive iodine-123.
“Rosatom’s enterprises have done a lot of work to establish regular deliveries of this drug, which is necessary for the diagnosis of malignant endocrine neoplasms in children, explained Elena Eremina, Director for Medical Isotopes at V/O Izotop. “Now, clinics in Moscow that need this drug will be able to receive it on a weekly basis.”
At the beginning of 2023, the production of raw materials for this drug in Moscow was suspended for technical reasons. Co-ordination between Rosatom’s enterprises and the Ministry of Health made it possible to find an alternative supplier of raw materials in RNTsRKT, which is part of the Health Ministry. This made it possible to restore regular supplies, taking into account the need for rapid delivery, as iodine-123 has a half-life of only13.2 hours and allows imaging up to 48 hours.
