"As we look towards the future, the Isotope Production System is a game-changer that will allow us to access a key neutron source in our reactors, and create unprecedented capacity and redundancy of isotope production to improve global access to these innovative tools in the fight against cancer. Today's announcement is a big step forward in achieving our goal of long-term, sustainable, and flexible production of medical isotopes at the Bruce Power site."

Production of Lutetium-177 at Bruce Power is expected to start in 2022, following regulatory and other approvals. Lutetium-177 is produced by irradiating Ytterbium-176. The process involves placing Ytterbium-176 source material in special sealed containers that are then conveyed into one of the Bruce Power reactors using the proprietary Isotope Production System (IPS). The Ytterbium-176 is then irradiated for about one week and the resulting intermediate Lutetium-177 is then sent to ITM for further processing into highly-pure pharmaceutical grade Lutetium-177 for subsequent distribution to health care facilities worldwide.


Development of the IPS is currently in its final phase of engineering, testing, and design at the state-of-the-art Framatome engineering facility in Kincardine, Ontario.

"This is a landmark day for Isogen and we are thrilled to finalize our agreement with ITM," said John D'Angelo, President of Isogen. "Through the combination of Isogen's proprietary production technology, the reliability and capacity of the Bruce Power reactors, and ITM's patented processing technology and industry-leading supply network, we have set the stage to create the largest, most secure supply of Lutetium-177 in the world. This will be a benefit to our pharma partners, and to cancer patients now and in the future, knowing they can rely on a stable supply of isotope for decades to come."

Processing and global distribution of pharmaceutical grade Lutetium-177 by ITM is enabled through the company's global network of radiopharmaceutical production facilities. The partnership's primary goal is to guarantee the supply of pharmaceutical grade Lutetium-177 and meet the medical community's growing demand for this important isotope.

"We are very pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Bruce Power and Isogen by signing this exclusive agreement which ensures us a consistent and reliable irradiation service for critically needed radioisotopes for the next 15 years," said Steffen Schuster, CEO of ITM. "This partnership will further increase the scalability of our production and thus ensure a steady supply of no-carrier-added Lutetium-177 on a global scale, further increasing the availability of this promising treatment option to cancer patients worldwide."

Molecular Imaging Homepage