Nuclearelectrica, Framatome sign Cooperation Agreement for production of medical isotope Lu-177
Romanian nuclear power plant operator SN Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN) and France's Framatome are working together to produce the cancer-treatment isotope Lu-177 at the Cernavoda nuclear facility, Nuclearelectrica announced in a statement on Tuesday, as the two companies officially signed the relevant Cooperation Agreement in a ceremony hosted by French Ambassador in Bucharest Nicolas Warnery, at the French Residence.
"Nuclearelectrica's involvement in this large-scale project places Romania among the elite of the global nuclear industry, not only by virtue of its clean energy production but also of its innovative health solutions. The government led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu firmly supports this project, as well as all the initiatives that improve the quality of people's lives, including through the discovery and introduction of last-generation medical treatments," said the head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, on this occasion.
Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said that Romania is thus taking an important step towards the development of nuclear medicine and towards ensuring patients' access to advanced cancer treatments, as "the production of the Lu-177 isotope represents an essential achievement for public health, as it allows modern therapies which directly target cancer cells, thus providing a precise and minimally invasive treatment. This project reflects Romania's commitment to supporting research and innovation in the field of medically-applied technologies, strengthening our ability to meet the national and regional need for radioisotopes. In a period of growing demand for such resources, it is essential that Romania contributes to the development and diversification of these vital solutions for patients," Rafila pointed out.
According to French ambassador in Bucharest Nicolas Warnery, Romania and France have been sharing for decades a common vision on nuclear energy and its contribution to decarbonization and energy independence. He noted that this cooperation on the Lu-177 isotope represents a significant step forward, proving the two countries' commitment to working together to promote European autonomy as regards medical-grade isotopes.
The Lu-177 isotope, which is crucial in advanced oncological treatments, will be produced using the Framatome technology.
"This partnership with Framatome for the production of Lu-177 is proof of our dedication to supporting nuclear medicine innovation and to contributing to advanced treatments against cancer. Through this initiative, Romania joins international efforts to develop more effective medical solutions for patients throughout world," said Nuclearelectrica CEO Cosmin Ghita.
The two companies recently announced the successful completion of a joint feasibility study that demonstrated the compliance of the Framatome technology for Ytterbium-176 irradiation at Cernavoda Unit 2 with the technical market standard required for the production of Lutetium-based radiopharmaceuticals.
Nuclear technologies play a crucial role in modern healthcare. They are essential in the fight against cancer, and Framatome has a long-standing presence in the healthcare field, said Framatome CEO Bernard Fontana.
Framatome and SNN are currently moving forward with the detailed engineering and procurement phase, so that the first production batches for the manufacturing of radiopharmaceuticals are rolled out in 2028.
This project also aims to ensure an adequate reserve of Lu-177 to satisfy Romania's internal needs regarding the production and supply of radiopharmaceutical products. Lu-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and in multiple anticancer radiopharmaceutical developments. The isotope destroys cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected. Framatome's proprietary isotope production technology enabled the first large-scale commercial production of Lu-177 in a power reactor in June 2022. AGERPRES (RO - author: Cristian Anghelache, editor: Mariana Nica; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)
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