MDS Nordion and TRIUMF Collaborate to Study Development of Photo Fission-Produced Molybdenum-99
28 Aprile 2009 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Collaboration Examines New Technology Alternative for Medical
Isotope Supply OTTAWA, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS
Nordion, a leading global provider of medical isotopes and
radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular medicine, and TRIUMF,
Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics,
today announced they have signed an agreement to study the
feasibility of producing a viable and reliable supply of photo
fission-produced molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) used globally for diagnostic
medical imaging. MDS Nordion and TRIUMF will also provide their
respective expertise and resources to collaboratively develop a
commercialization plan, which will include an operational plan,
business model and time lines. Medical isotopes produced using
photo fission employ the use of a linear accelerator rather than a
nuclear reactor; as such, the need to ship and handle highly
enriched uranium is eliminated in favour of naturally occurring
uranium. This method also provides a potential alternate solution
through which to supplement the production capacity of Mo-99, and
lessen the reliance on existing nuclear research reactors. "This
integrated collaboration is a positive step toward achieving an
additional medical-isotope solution to meet the increased needs of
the global nuclear medicine community," said MDS Nordion President
Steve West. "With the superior level of the science at TRIUMF,
combined with Nordion's market and technical expertise, we seek to
provide a flexible, reliable and responsive medical-isotope
solution to potentially strengthen the global supply chain."
Statistics from Arlington Medical Resources, Inc., a
Philadelphia-based pharmaceutical market research firm, show that
every year more than 15 million patients in North America are
diagnosed or treated with nuclear medicine procedures. Today, 80%
of these procedures rely on one key medical isotope, Mo-99, which
is largely used to diagnose heart disease and cancer. "MDS
Nordion's processing experience and TRIUMF's proven knowledge of
physics, and accelerator and target expertise is a strong
combination," said TRIUMF Director Nigel Lockyer. "MDS Nordion's
significant market presence, along with TRIUMF's science and
technology proficiencies, could create a great opportunity through
which to address the increasing domestic and international demand
for molybdenum-99." MDS Nordion and TRIUMF have a 30-year history
of successful partnership with a renewed commitment focused on
research and development. This commercial relationship has resulted
in a number of pioneering developments - including receipt in 2004
of the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation for the most outstanding
achievements of university-industry collaboration. Building on this
established foundation, the agreement between MDS Nordion and
TRIUMF to study the feasibility of producing a viable and reliable
supply of photo-fission Mo-99 for diagnostic medical imaging
continues to use both partners' complementary expertise and skills
in the field of molecular imaging technology. About TRIUMF TRIUMF
is Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics.
Located on the south campus of the University of British Columbia,
TRIUMF is owned and operated as a joint venture, via a contribution
through National Research Council Canada and supported by the
Province of British Columbia, by a consortium of the following
Canadian universities: University of Alberta, University of British
Columbia, Carleton University, University of Manitoba, l'Universite
de Montreal, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto, and
University of Victoria. To learn more about TRIUMF, go to
http://www.triumf.ca/. About MDS Nordion MDS Nordion, a business
unit of MDS Inc., is a global leader in providing medical isotopes
for molecular and diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutics and
sterilization technologies for medical products that benefit the
lives of millions of people in more than 50 countries around the
world. MDS Nordion's products and services are used on a daily
basis by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device
manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Find
out more at http://www.mdsnordion.com/ About MDS MDS Inc. (TSX:
MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life sciences company that provides
market-leading products and services that our customers need for
the development of drugs, and the diagnosis and treatment of
disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical
contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging,
radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than
5,000 highly skilled people in 29 countries. Find out more at
http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a
day. DATASOURCE: MDS Inc. CONTACT: CONTACT MDS Nordion: MEDIA:
Shelley Maclean, (613) 592-3400, ext. 2414, ; INVESTORS: Kim Lee,
(416) 213-4721, ; Contact TRIUMF: Dr. Timothy I. Meyer, (604)
222-7674,
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