Ongoing efforts are being made to address future shortages of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a key medical radioisotope used for imaging patients’ organs and tumors. A $32 million award has been announced to support the development of a Mo-99 production facility in Wisconsin, which aims to provide a domestic supply of Mo-99.
Efforts to Address Molybdenum-99 Shortages
There are ongoing efforts to address future shortages of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a key medical radioisotope used for imaging patients’ organs and tumors.
The US Department of Energy and the NNSA have announced a $32 million award to support the development of a Mo-99 production facility in Wisconsin, which is currently under construction. This new facility, dubbed Chrysalis, aims to provide a domestic supply of Mo-99.
Establishing New Producers
Efforts are being made to establish new producers of Mo-99. NRG is building a completely new reactor called PALLAS, which should become operational around 2030. This will allow staff to increase radioisotope production from 260 to 300 days per year and supply significantly more doses of technetium-99m.
Impact on Healthcare Providers
The recent shortage also affected healthcare providers in the US. Jeffrey Chamberlin, assistant deputy administrator for material management and minimization at the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), stated that the crisis highlights the need to continue supporting a domestic supply of Mo-99 in the US.
Current Developments
Deliveries of molybdenum-99 to hospitals are now returning to normal, following the restart of the Petten reactor. However, Flux points out that the low number of facilities making this isotope means future shortages are likely.
Background Information
The Petten nuclear reactor in the Netherlands is one of six major commercial producers of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a key medical radioisotope used for imaging patients’ organs and tumors. Mo-99 decays into technetium-99m, which doctors inject into patients to reveal how their body parts are functioning.
The Offline Reactor
In October, engineers at the Petten reactor discovered a bulge in one of its pipes, causing the radiopharmaceutical supply chain to be disrupted. This led to the cancellation of thousands of patient appointments in the UK and Netherlands. Although the pipe issue has been identified, it may take some time for repairs to be completed.
Molybdenum-99 Shortages
Molybdenum-99 shortages occur every few years, but this recent shortage was relatively acute. Some patients faced cancellations of their hospital appointments, while others had postponed hospital tests. Medical radioisotope expert Glenn Flux is worried that additional shortages could occur within the coming months.
The Importance of Molybdenum-99
Molybdenum-99 is a vital resource in medical imaging, particularly for diagnosing cancer. It has a very short half-life, just six hours or so, making it necessary to have a constant supply. Radioisotope-producing facilities send miniature generators containing Mo-99 out to hospitals, which produce the desired Tc-99m as the Mo-99 decays.
The Impact of the Shortage
The recent shortage caused by the offline status of the NRG reactor has led to cancellations of thousands of patient appointments in the UK alone. Health care staff swung into action to distribute the remaining radioisotope supplies around the UK, prioritizing the most urgent patients.
