Industrial Applications and Chemisty Section

Project Code/Title I.1.03: Development, production and quality assurance of radiopharmaceuticals

 Rationale : Production, quality assurance and supply of radiopharmaceuticals are becoming vital in sustaining and accelerating the nuclear medicine services in Member States. Regular production and supply of radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals comprises an active and ongoing programme in most of the national nuclear centres of Member States. The last decade has seen the emergence of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, staging, prognosis and therapy of cancer. These include efficacious products for treatment of cancer using beta emitting radioisotopes linked to receptor binding carrier molecules. Improved methods of preparation of Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals are also becoming important areas of new research. Preparation of radiopharmaceuticals using cyclotron produced short lived PET and SPECT isotopes in automated chemistry modules is another area that is fast growing. Member States without reactors or cyclotrons but smaller scale radioisotope handling facilities also have active radiopharmaceutical programmes suiting other national requirements. Information exchange and research are needed in production and QA/QC of radiopharmaceuticals using both reactor and cyclotron produced isotopes as well as in developing in new methodologies.

 Objective : To enhance technical capability of Member States to produce quality radiopharmaceutical indigenously for assured regular national availability.