Cancer-fighting medical isotope offers hope to patients worldwide.
A new isotope production system in Unit 6 of the Bruce nuclear power station in Ontario province, Canada, will increase production capacity of the cancer-fighting medical isotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) and ensure a stable supply when Unit 7 is taken off-line for its scheduled major component replacement outage in 2028.
Bruce operator Bruce Power said it is harnessing the power of its homegrown Candu technology to produce medical isotopes through the innovative isotope system.
Federal minister of energy and natural resources Tim Hodgson visited Bruce Power to announce the installation of the system in Unit 6 – the first reactor to be renewed under the company’s life-extension programme and major component replacement project.
The plant was returned to service in 2023 and will now continue to provide power to the province as well as producing Lu-177, a targeted cancer therapy used across the globe.
Lu-177 is used in targeted radionuclide therapy to treat prostate cancer and has approved and expanding applications in this area. Its precision enables the destruction of diseased cells while sparing healthy tissue, offering hope to patients worldwide.
According to Bruce Power, Canada is emerging as a global leader in the isotope sector, with the expertise, infrastructure, and innovation needed to stabilise international supply chains and advance critical medical and industrial applications.
“As the global demand for isotopes grows, Canada is uniquely positioned to shape the future of this vital field,” the company said.
