Workshop participants in front of the OECD NEA offices.
More than 130 participants, including medical doctors, researchers, nuclear medicine specialists, government representatives and industry professionals, came together on 9-10 April at the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) for the Third International Workshop on Medical Radioisotope Supply, co-organised with the US Department of Energy. Perspectives from across the world were represented at the workshop, where participants discussed the status of critical radioisotopes supply, current cancer therapeutic trends related to radioligand therapy (RLT) and regulatory challenges.
NEA Director-General Magwood providing opening remarks.
Over the two days, leading experts shared high-level remarks and insights. The workshop opened with keynote remarks from NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV, who highlighted how far nuclear research had come since his early days of nuclear research. He recalled that, when he first entered the field, the idea of attaching isotopes to antibodies to target cancer cells was highly speculative and often perceived as science fiction, whereas today it has become a tangible reality. He underlined the potential of medical radioisotopes, noting that one of the major barriers in the field for treating cancer at scale is the lack of sufficient supply.
Christopher Landers, Director of the Office of Isotope R&D and Production at the US Department of Energy, spoke about the importance of people and connections. While institutions may have different mandates, he stressed the ultimate goal is common: ensuring the supply of medical isotopes.
Dr Jun Hatazawa, Special Advisor to the Japan Atomic Energy Commission in the Cabinet Office of Japanese Government, and Vice President of Japan Radioisotope Association, provided a global medical perspective, emphasising the importance of imaging and the added value of theranostics. He explained that, unlike conventional therapies, where drug distribution cannot be directly seen, radioisotope-based approaches enable clinicians to “see it” and quantify treatment precisely.
Guy Turquet de Beauregard, Honorary President of Nuclear Medicine Europe (NMEU), in his keynote remarks outlined his organisation’s role in short-term monitoring isotope production and in co-ordinating across reactor schedules.
The sessions examined the status of radioligand therapy and theranostics, including scientific advances, clinical results and public health impact, as well as the scale-up of production and the range of technologies being developed for key isotopes such as lutetium-177(Lu-177), actinium-225(Ac-225) and lead-212 (Pb-212).
Discussions shifted to the supply resilience of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which has been the focus of NEA activities for more than 15 years and of the work of the High-Level Group on Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR). This group, originally started in 2009, was cited as a good example of how convening stakeholders from industry, government and regulatory authorities can resolve supply issues and inform policies to strengthen supply security.
Throughout the workshop, speakers shared reflections on recent advances and innovations, predominantly driven by the private sector, including the advantages of vertical integration and the sector’s capacity for growth. The expertise in the room provided a strong base for discussions on how decisions to invest in medical radioisotope innovation can position full cost recovery concerns against appropriate supply for patient care.
Further sessions looked at healthcare system readiness. Speakers presented scenarios where future demand could rise significantly, particularly in prostate cancer. Major gaps, however, remain in infrastructure, workforce, reimbursement and patient pathways, limiting access in many countries. This led to discussions on national and regional updates on efforts to strengthen medical radioisotope supply chain resilience. Speakers identified ongoing regional and national programmes for Mo-99 production, while advancing next-generation therapeutic isotopes.
A panel session during the workshop.
Aspects of integrating RLT were presented, including waste management following treatment administration, radiological protection and transportation logistics. Building on the experience of the NEA HLG-MR, speakers emphasised the need for stronger co-ordination, improved data sharing, strengthened policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as more structured collaboration across governments, industry and international organisations.
The theme of the full supply chain of medical radioisotopes, from production to end users, including both medical professionals and patients, was a constant throughout the workshop. Participants highlighted key priorities, including strengthening the security of supply, ensuring hospital readiness and addressing challenges in transport, waste management and workforce development. The importance of collaboration across governments, industry and medical associations was mentioned with the objective of maintaining this coordinated effort going forward. At the same time, an emphasis was placed on supporting innovation and research and development for novel isotopes and breakthrough therapies. The workshop reflected the confidence of the community that there is a strong foundation for achieving security of medical radioisotopes supply in the future.
