The agreement was formalized during a special event hosted by the French Ambassador in Bucharest, Nicolas Warnery, and attended by key Romanian officials, including Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, and Dr. Tiberius Marius Bradaan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health.
"Nuclearelectrica's involvement in this large-scale project brings Romania into the elite of the global nuclear industry, concerned not only with clean energy production, but also with innovative health solutions. The Government led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu strongly supports this project, as well as all initiatives that improve people's quality of life, including through the discovery and introduction of state-of-the-art medical treatments," said Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu.
Highlighting the impact on public health, Romania's Minister of Health, Prof. Alexandru Rafila, stated, "The production of the Lutetium-177 isotope is a key achievement for public health, as this radioisotope enables modern therapies that directly target cancer cells, thus offering a precise and minimally invasive treatment. This project reflects Romania's commitment to support research and innovation in the field of applied medical technologies, strengthening our ability to respond to national and regional needs for radioisotopes. At a time of increasing global demand for such resources, it is essential that Romania contributes to the development and diversification of these vital solutions for patients."
The French Ambassador to Romania, Nicolas Warnery, emphasized the significance of the partnership, noting, "This collaboration on Lutetium-177 marks a significant achievement, reflecting our two countries' commitment to working together to foster European self-sufficiency in radioisotopes. It also highlights a frequently underestimated positive aspect of nuclear energy: its potential for innovation and its critical role in nuclear medicine."
The technology for producing Lu-177 will be provided by Framatome, marking a substantial development in enhancing nuclear medicine in Romania. "Nuclear technologies play a crucial role in modern healthcare. They are essential in the fight against cancer and Framatome has a long-standing presence in the field of healthcare," said Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome. "We are proud to bring our innovative isotope production technology and join forces with SNN to strengthen the supply chain for lifesaving radioisotopes in Europe."
The collaboration follows a successful feasibility study earlier this year, which confirmed the compatibility of Framatome's technology to irradiate Ytterbium-176 at Unit 2 of Cernavoda to produce Lutetium-177. The engineering and industrialization phase is now underway, with production aimed to commence by 2028.
Cosmin Ghia, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, stated, "This partnership with Framatome for the production of Lutetium-177 demonstrates our dedication to supporting innovation in nuclear medicine and contributing to advanced cancer treatments. Through this initiative, Romania is aligning with international efforts to develop more effective medical solutions for patients around the world."
Lu-177 is essential in targeted radionuclide therapy for prostate cancer and other potential cancer treatments, selectively eliminating cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Framatome pioneered large-scale commercial production of this isotope in a power reactor in June 2022.
Related Links
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Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
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