Bruce Power, Isogen look to build on radioisotope success

The IPS, designed and manufactured by Isogen, was installed in Bruce Power's Unit 7 during a recent planned maintenance outage. Described as a first-of-its-kind solution to produce short-lived medical isotopes in a commercial reactor, the system recently produced its first non-carrier-added lutetium-177 - a medical isotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy - by irradiation of ytterbium-176, and the companies want to build on this success.

Yttrium-90 is used as a targeted liver cancer therapy.  "Following our recent first irradiation of ytterbium-176 to produce non-carrier-added lutetium-177 for our German partner ITM Isotope Technologies Munich, we can now build on this success to expand to our capabilities to produce other medical isotopes," Isogen President John D'Angelo said. "Yttrium-90 is a promising medical isotope with a growing market and it represents a logical next step for the expansion of our isotope production technology."

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and Bruce Power in 2019 set up a partnership to jointly market new medical isotopes while creating new economic opportunities within the SON territory, which encompasses the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula, by establishing new isotope infrastructure. The SON partnership is called Gamzook'aamin Aakoziwin, which translates to Fighting Cancer Together. A Global Expressions of Interest Process (EOI) for radiopharmaceutical organizations interested in locating in Ontario for isotope production, launched by Isogen and Bruce Power, is currently under way and will run until mid-2023.

"Cancer is something that touches us all and Saugeen Objibway Nation supports the development of medical isotopes to help battle different forms of cancer and we are thrilled to partner with Bruce Power and Isogen to benefit the community on a local and international level," said Chief Veronica Smith, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.