Lantheus inks Mo-99 supply deal with Australia
Lantheus Medical Imaging has finalized an arrangement with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) to receive molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) produced from low-enriched uranium (LEU) targets in its new Open Pool Australian Lightwater (OPAL) reactor.

ANSTO said it is working with nuclear safety and health regulators, both domestically and overseas, to expedite the necessary approvals to allow production and export of medical isotopes. Lantheus, together with ANSTO, said it is working with the FDA and Health Canada to achieve the necessary LEU Mo-99 approvals for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Under the arrangement, Lantheus said it will supply technetium-99m (Tc-99m) derived from Mo-99 to the U.S. market. Tc-99m is used in approximately 80 percent of all nuclear medicine procedures.

The North Billerica, Mass.-based Lantheus said it will soon receive a supply of Mo-99 at regular intervals from ANSTO for use in its TechneLite Tc-99m generator line that is currently distributed to the U.S. and Canadian markets.
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