Bruce Power is starting the commercial production of a cancer-fighting isotope.
Bruce Power says by collaborating with Isogen, a company which assists in producing medical isotopes, and ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM), they were able to get regulatory approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to mark the first-of-its-kind achievement.
This multi-year project to install a new Isotope Production System (ISP) in Bruce Power’s unit 7, will be able to provide industrial-scale production of lutetium-177, an isotope used for targeted cancer therapeutics.
After producing lutetium-177 at Bruce Power, it is transported to ITM’s facility in Germany for processing it into pharmaceutical-grade.
Lutetium-177 has been successfully used in various clinical and commercial cancer treatments, says Bruce Power.
Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck says this announcement is the result of years of dedication and comes thanks to the hard work of thousands of employees across its international partnership.
“It is with great pride that we at Bruce Power, along with our partners at Isogen, ITM and Saugeen Ojibway Nation, celebrate the successful commencement of commercial operation of the world’s first large-scale Isotope Production System for the production of lutetium-177,” says Rencheck.
The IPS will assist Bruce Power by keeping continual operations 24/7 to provide a consistent and scalable supply of the isotope, which will be used to treat cancer patients around the world.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford adds, “today’s announcement is a huge step forward in advancing Ontario as a world leader of isotope production in the fight against cancer. This unique international project using Made-in-Ontario infrastructure will help doctors and patients at home and around the world have greater access to the life-saving isotopes they need.”
Bruce Power says it will also collaborate with Saugeen Ojibway Nation to market the new isotope supply in an equity partnership, dubbed Gamzook’aamin Aakoziwin.
Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie says, the Gamzook’aamin Aakoziwin project has been years in the making, and it marks another milestone in the global fight against cancer.
“These medical isotopes will be used to help patients receive treatments in the battle against cancer not just at home in our communities, but across the world,” says Ritchie.
