June 8, 2020 2:15pm
The Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) and Canadian Nuclear IsotopeCouncil (CNIC) have partnered in an innovative study to evaluate the medical isotope supply chain to ensure an improved flow of the critical medical tool in the future.
The nuclear industry supplies the isotopes which are used to sterilize medical equipment, diagnose and treat many forms of cancer.
“While the sector has managed well through the current challenges, the pandemic has placed a laser- focus on the need for robust supply chains,” said James Scongack, Chair of the CNIC. “Now more than ever we need to understand the challenges, opportunities, and innovations available to ensure supply and delivery of these life-saving isotopes.”
The production and distribution of medical isotopes is a just-in-time activity conducted along a complex chain of global public and private sector actors. The products generally have a short shelf-life of
effectiveness due to their half-lives.
The research study will seek to:
identify the source and nature of the supply chain’s most significant weaknesses and strengths in order to further strengthen it;
determine appropriate recommendations for domestic and international regulators and/or policymakers that address supply chain logistics challenges and opportunities;
determine if the pandemic has raised new – or exacerbated existing – supply chain issues, and assess its impact on demand;
place a value on the cost of supply chain disruptions to patients and the industry;
evaluate whether new technologies and platforms such as AI and machine learning can contribute to more predictive demand that would enable the industry to be more efficient and expand into new lines of business.
“A resilient supply chain is essential to the sector’s ability to grow through the development of new products and lines of business,” said Scongack. “Patients fighting cancer and other medical conditions all over the world rely on Canada for a safe and stable supply of medical isotopes. This presents a major challenge – and opportunity – for Canadian leadership in securing a safe and reliable supply of isotopes.”
Specifically, the study will examine supply chain issues for four critical isotopes:
Cobalt-60 which sterilizes single-use medical devices, including masks, gloves, implantable devices, as well as some food products like spices and more;
Iodine-125 (I-125), used in medical imaging and the treatment of prostate and other cancers, with 60% of the world’s supply produced at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor at McMaster University;
Actinium-225 (Ac-225), used in precision targeting of cancer cells, currently produced at TRIUMF
in Vancouver in a fast-developing market where key challenges include scaling up production, including improving availability and recycling of target materials; and
Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), a treatment for advanced and metastasizing prostate cancers, which currently accounts for 16% of the beta-emitters in the Canadian therapeutic product market.
“A reliable supply chain is critical to improving patient outcomes and expanding the industry,” said NII President Bruce Wallace. “The medical isotope industry and policymakers need actionable intelligence to address vulnerabilities that inhibit the growth of a strategic Canadian sector. And we need to assess whether new technologies provide potential solutions to addressing them.”
