SN Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN) and Framatome announce the signing of the Collaboration Agreement for the production of the medical isotope Lutețiu-177 (Lu-177) at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant in Romania. Lutetium-177 is used for a number of vital cancer treatments.
In a special ceremony hosted by the French Ambassador in Bucharest, Nicolas Warnery, at the French Residence, in the presence of the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Mr. Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, Mr. Dr. Tiberius Marius Brădățan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health of Romania and other high officials, SN Nuclearelectrica SA and Framatome officially signed the Collaboration Agreement for the production of the medical isotope Lutețiu-177 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant.
“Nuclearelectrica’s involvement in this far-reaching project brings Romania to the elite of the global nuclear industry, concerned not only with the production of clean energy, but also with innovative health solutions. The government led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu strongly supports this project, as well as all the initiatives that improve the quality of people’s lives, including through the discovery and introduction of the latest generation medical treatments,” said the Head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu.
“For decades, Romania and France have shared a common vision on nuclear energy and its contribution to decarbonization and ensuring energy independence. This collaboration on Lutetium-177 represents a significant step forward, demonstrating our countries’ commitment to work together to promote European autonomy in medical isotopes. Also, this collaboration highlights a positive aspect that is often underestimated in the nuclear sector: its potential for innovation and its essential role in nuclear medicine,” also said the French Ambassador to Romania, Nicolas Warnery.
Lutetium-177, crucial in advanced cancer treatments, will be produced using Framatome technology. The event emphasized the common commitment to public health, contributing to the fight against cancer through advanced nuclear medical solutions, marking a significant stage in the field of nuclear medicine in Romania.
“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 aligns itself with international efforts to develop more effective medical solutions for patients around the world,” added Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
Recently, the two companies announced the successful completion of a joint feasibility study that demonstrated the suitability of the Framatome technology for irradiating Ytterbium-176 at Unit 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, to the technical market standard required for the production of radiopharmaceutical products based on of lutetium.
Framatome and SNN are currently moving forward with the detailed engineering and industrialization phase, with the goal of obtaining the first production batches for radiopharmaceutical manufacturing in 2028.
“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 healthcare field,” said Bernard Fontana, Framatome CEO. “We are proud to bring our innovative isotope production technology and join forces with SNN to strengthen the supply chain of life-saving radioisotopes in Europe.”
This project also aims to ensure an adequate supply of Lu-177 to meet Romania’s domestic needs for the production and supply of radiopharmaceuticals. Lu-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and in multiple radiopharmaceutical developments in the treatment of cancer. The isotope destroys cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected. Framatome’s proprietary isotope production technology enabled the first large-scale commercial production of Lu-177 in a power reactor in June 2022.