Security of Supply

The Security of Supply Working Group brings together Nuclear Medicine Europe members who operate research reactors or use their output for medical isotope production. This involves either the production of fission isotopes (e.g., molybdenum, iodine, xenon) by splitting uranium targets or the neutron activation of isotopes (e.g., strontium, iridium, samarium, lutetium) by bombarding stable target materials.

The main goal of this working group is to achieve optimal coordination of reactor operating periods to provide adequate global coverage during planned reactor shutdown periods for refueling and maintenance. This coordination is necessary to ensure production continuity of parent isotopes and guarantee the supply of final radiopharmaceutical products and therapy sources to hospitals year-round. The working group also provides a forum for research reactor operators and radiopharmaceutical producers to share information about important developments in the medical isotope market and discuss issues of common concern.

The production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is particularly sensitive to any unplanned reactor unavailability due to extremely high global demand for Mo-99 in the production of technetium-99m generators (Tc-99m), as Tc-99m is the daughter isotope of Mo-99. In nuclear medicine, approximately 80% of all diagnostic procedures (around 30 million annually) depend on Tc-99m. Both Mo-99 and Tc-99m have short half-lives, which excludes the possibility of building buffer stocks of these critical materials.

Initially, the working group concentrated on European reactors. However, following various recent events that identified an increasingly difficult supply situation, and in view of the global scope of Mo-99 supply, it became clear that the group had to extend its sphere of activity to include all global reactor operators and distribution organizations, including NRU in Canada, SAFARI in South Africa, and OPAL in Australia.

To maximize the working group’s efficiency, research reactor operators became associate members of Nuclear Medicine Europe in 2009. They are now full participants in working group meetings, and this, combined with the increase in the number of participating reactors, has contributed to smoother and more open dialogue.

The Workgroup, assisted by the Nuclear Medicine Europe Executive Committee, has numerous contacts with European Institutions as well as with individual National Authorities. The Workgroup also cooperates with the NEA group of the OECD and supports the IAEA in global initiatives to solve the present and future Mo-99 supply problems. The Workgroup has also built close working ties with medical associations such as the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), as well as with parallel industry groups such as CORAR in the USA.

Under normal circumstances, the working group meets three times a year. However, in crisis situations, meetings are more frequent, and additional meetings and telephone conferences can be organized at the initiative of individual members or at the request of the Executive Committee or international governmental institutions.

The Security of Supply Working Group is committed to the global coordination of reactors and radiopharmaceutical producers of critical medical isotopes to ensure continuity of global supply with minimal risk of disruption. Nuclear Medicine Europe is committed to clear communication of supply-related issues to the medical community and acts as the central global coordinator and communication channel during periods of supply uncertainty.