Framatome Advances Towards Producing Lu-177 In Romania

Framatome (ENS Corporate Member) and Nuclearelectrica have announced the successful outcome of the feasibility study which assessed the possibility of producing medical isotope Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

The two companies have now launched the implementation of the project, covering detailed engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of the irradiation system at Unit 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

The launch of a full-scale commercial irradiation service for medical isotopes is targeted for 2028.

Bringing additional capacities from nuclear power reactors helps build a large scale, reliable and diversified supply of critical radioisotopes to fight cancer. The demand for massively accessible cutting-edge cancer treatments globally is growing rapidly. The nuclear industry stands ready to play its part in strengthening the supply chain for lifesaving radioisotopes in Europe and across the world.

said François Gauché, VP Framatome Healthcare.

The feasibility study was initiated in November 2023, based on Framatome’s isotope production technology.

It assessed whether the infrastructure at Cernavoda could be used to convert targets into medical isotopes in addition to the current generation of reliable, low-carbon electricity.

The study demonstrated that by adapting Framatome’s technology to Unit 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, the reactor would be able to irradiate Ytterbium-176 at the market technical standard required to produce Lutetium-based radiopharmaceuticals.

Lu-177 is currently used in hospitals to treat neuroendocrine tumours. Neuroendocrine cells are found primarily in the organs of the digestive system, including the stomach, pancreas and intestines.

Among other things, lutetium-177 is a very promising radioisotope used in the fight against prostate cancer and dozens of other applications in the near future.

Furthermore, the need for lutetium-177 is expected to grow exponentially: from 16,000 patients in 2020 to 138,000 patients in 2026.

Read the full Framatome Press Release.

Nuclear medicine and medical isotopes benefit thousands of patients every day in current clinical practice and have great potential for future clinical challenges.

Last year, ENS, together with Euratom Supply Agency (ENS Member), organised the event Beating Cancer – turning the tide with medical isotopes, which gave us the opportunity to learn more about those amazing developments and to discuss the challenges ahead.

You can find its recording and all materials in our Special Newsletter.