NRU Reactor License extended
On Friday, February 6, 2015, Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford announced Canada’s decision to support the extension of the operations of the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor from October 31, 2016, until March 31, 2018. The NRU is operated by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL), a subsidiary of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
The announcement of the extension of the NRU is designed to help support global medical isotope demand between 2016 and 2018 in the unexpected circumstances of shortages, and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories will now begin decommissioning the NRU after March 31, 2018.
Why CAMRT was concerned
Technetium-99m (99mTc) is used in over 80% of nuclear medicine procedures – more than 30 – 40 million examinations worldwide yearly- this product is clearly crucial to the practice of nuclear medicine. Ongoing reliable supply of this critical isotope is under threat. According to a recent OECD report1, “Current global irradiation and processing capacity is predicted to be insufficient over the period analysed for reliable 99Mo/99mTc supply, even with all producers operating under normal conditions…” This report reflects the impact on supply, had the planned closure of the NRU reactor at Chalk River in 2016 proceeded.
Map of locations of current reactors; NRU at Chalk River Ontario supplies 30-40% of the world’s demand
While there is confidence that remaining and new reactors worldwide and new technologies here in Canada appear to have the capacity to serve a significant portion of the market over the longer term, there was concern that the existing aging reactors would not be able to sustain supplies in the period following the planned NRU closure. This suggested the potential for shortages in the period 2017-2020.
CAMRT will continue to monitor the situation, and will regularly consult with the Government of Canada and key stakeholders on strategies that ensure ongoing supply now and after the closure of the NRU In 2018.
CAMRT Advocacy Approach
CAMRT will continue to advocate and advise the federal government on supply management strategies, as well as monitoring the impact on human resources and nuclear medicine education programs.
CAMRT had been monitoring global supply forecasts, and has been very effective at raising the issue at the Canadian and world level. At the initiative of the CAMRT, a Canadian Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Medical Isotopes was formed. It included representatives from the Canadian government, provincial governments and four national associations (the CAMRT, CAR, CANM and CARS). Its role was defined as “to set out clear expectations, principles and processes on how to communicate information regarding medical isotopes and to coordinate efforts to identify, prepare for, prevent, mitigate and resolve potential medical isotope disruptions in Canada.” The CAMRT also stimulated a dialogue at the international level with the ISRRT and the SNMMI (Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging) in order to share information about the status of new Tc-99m production projects. An CAMRT “expert panel” made-up of CAMRT members who work in nuclear medicine from across the country was also created, to our “eyes and ears” on the ground and help us share information.
Our goal is to continue to monitor the situation closely and stimulate the emergence of mitigation strategies that will ensure little or no disruption to Canadian patients who require a nuclear medicine scan should shortages occur in the near or medium term.
For a more detailed understanding of the issue, visit our Isotope Supply Resource Centre for ; background information; industry news; and the latest media reports.
Educate yourself
For a better understanding of the global supply, CAMRT members can complete a free Quick Self Study course, Mo-99 Update: Understanding Global Mo-99 Supply, sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
Share your knowledge
Do you have innovative solutions to share with CAMRT, or news about supply issues in your area? Share them here.
- The supply of medical isotopes; medical isotope supply in the future: production capacity and demand forecast for the 99Mo/99mTc market,2015-2020. April 2014 NEA/SEN/HLGMR(2014)2 www.oecd-nea.org
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