DOE hands out final cooperative agreement for Mo-99 production

The Department of Energy (DOE)’s National Nuclear Security Administration has issued a fourth, and final, cooperative agreement to Corvallis, Oregon-based Northwest Medical Isotopes, LLC for the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).

In July, the DOE awarded cooperative agreements to three other U.S. companies: Niowave, Inc., located in Lansing, Michigan; NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, located in Beloit, Wisconsin; and SHINE Medical Technologies, located in Janesville, Wisconsin.

All four companies will receive $15 million in funding, and requires the awardees provide a $15 million match. The ultimate goal of these agreements, part of the larger American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2012, is to establish a reliable domestic supply of Mo-99.

“Mo-99 is a critical medical isotope that empowers us to fight back against heart disease and cancer,” said Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, DOE undersecretary for nuclear security and NNSA administrator, in a statement. “These agreements will facilitate its domestic production without highly enriched uranium, greatly reducing the potential for proliferation of nuclear materials.”

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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.

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