28 September 2021<\/p>\n
Canada's Bruce Power has received approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the commercial production of the medical radioisotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) in its nuclear power plants. The project to produce the innovative therapeutic isotope, which is used in the treatment of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours, is a partnership between Bruce Power, IsoGen, Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and ITM.<\/p>\n
IsoGen, a joint venture of Framatome and Kinectrics, designed and manufactured the Isotope Production System (IPS) that will be used to produce Lu-177 by irradiating ytterbium targets inside Candu reactors at Bruce. The IPS is being installed as part of the ongoing Life-Extension Program, which began in 2016 and aims to add about 30 to 35 years of operational life to each reactor at the Bruce site in Ontario.<\/p>\n
As the commissioning process continues there will be additional regulatory hold points to allow CNSC staff to confirm operational readiness of the IPS prior to the start of Lu-177 production, Bruce Power said. The company will finalise documentation and CNSC staff will review commissioning test results to verify the IPS meets its design and safety analyses requirements.<\/p>\n
Irradiated targets will then be processed by Germany-based ITM to produce pharmaceutical quality no-carrier-added Lu-177, which will be marketed under the name Endolucin Beta.<\/p>\n
Bruce Power is one of the world's largest producers of cobalt-60 - used for the sterilisation of single-use medical equipment as well as in cancer treatments - through its partnership with Nordion. The company said the approved Lu-177 project will expand its established isotope production and \"solidify\" it as an integral producer of critical medical isotopes. Chief Development Officer James Scongack said the Lu-177 project is a \"game-changer\" for the supply of medical isotopes and the global medical community.<\/p>\n
SON has been working with Bruce Power to create economic benefits within SON territory - which encompasses the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula - by establishing new isotope infrastructure connected with lutetium-177 production, and last year became the first indigenous community to join the Canadian Nuclear Isotopes Council.<\/p>\n
Chief Lester Anoquot, Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation, said: \"It's very exciting times for SON as we move forward to the next phase of the Isotope project with Bruce Power We are proud to play a leadership role in the global fight against cancer, while building economic opportunities in our community.\"<\/p>\n
The partnership, which includes an equity stake and revenue-sharing model for SON, is named Gamzook'aamin aakoziwin, which means 'We are Teaming up on the Sickness' in the traditional Anishinaabe language.<\/p>\n
Researched and written by World Nuclear News<\/p>\n
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See the article here: <\/p>\n
Regulatory approval for new isotope production at Bruce : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 28 September 2021 Canada's Bruce Power has received approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the commercial production of the medical radioisotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) in its nuclear power plants. Continue reading