(December 2, 2025)
Zwar sei die frühe Auftragserteilung logisch, da allen Beteiligten bewusst war, dass der Zentralkanal regelmäßig erneuert werden müsse. „Völlig unverständlich ist aber, wieso es in 13 Jahren nicht gelungen ist, ein weiteres Exemplar dieses Zentralkanals herzustellen, etwas was ja offensichtlich vor mehr als 20 Jahren noch möglich war“, sagte Büchler.
(June 24, 2025)
Noting that the product has been used in the world since 2013 and was monopolized by a US company that has FDA approval, he said, “Now this product has been indigenized in Iran in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the Development Headquarters of Nanotechnology and Micro Technologies.”
“The particle size of this product is less than ten nanometers and can move in the lymphatic system,” Shahcheraq said.
“This product will first be delivered to the AEOI. Then, in nuclear medicine centers, it is labeled with technetium-99 radioisotope a few minutes before it is injected into the patient‘s body. After the product is labeled with a radioisotope, it is injected directly (into the tumor) or subcutaneously (in the lymphatic part) to the patient,” he explained.
In line with its strategic objective, ESA leads the actions towards securing the supply of source materials for the radioisotopes production, thus actively contributing to the Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications (SAMIRA).
The Agency undertakes measures to ensure security of supply of high-enriched uranium (HEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), required to feed the production of medical radioisotopes and to fuel research reactors. These strategic materials are currently not produced in the Community and must be imported from the US or the Russian Federation.
(…)
Radioisotopes are used in medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including some of the most important ones, like cancers, cardiovascular and brain disorders. Over 10000 hospitals worldwide use radioisotopes for the in vivo diagnosis or treatment of about 35 million patients every year, of which 9 million in Europe.
Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is the most widely used (diagnostic) isotope.
Europe is the second largest consumer of Tc-99m, accounting for more than 20% of the global market.
(September 8, 2025)
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are announcing new actions to support domestic production of the vital medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).
“We’ve spent years working with U.S. companies to reshore Mo-99 production using advanced technology that doesn’t require weapons-usable nuclear material,” said Kasia Mendelsohn, NNSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “But NNSA hasn’t been alone in its efforts. Other agencies and departments are a big part of aiding the rebirth of this innovative U.S. industry.”