Curium and NRG PALLAS extend collaboration in the supply of essential medical isotope to hospitals

• Global supply of technetium-99m, most widely used medical isotopes in nuclear medicine, is secured for the coming years

(Petten, 21 May 2025) – NRG PALLAS and Curium have extended their collaboration to produce molybdenum-99through a new multi-year agreement.  Molybdenum-99, which transforms into technetium-99, is a critical isotope used in nuclear medicine. This agreement underlines the shared dedication of both partners to a stable and uninterrupted supply of technetium-99m for patient care worldwide.

More Than 50 Million Diagnosis Annually

Technetium-99m is used for hospitals and patients. More than 50 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year, with technetium-99m used in more than 80% of these diagnosis. The multi-year agreement between NRG PALLAS and Curium is essential to ensure the continuity of medical isotope supply.

Peter Luijten, CEO NRG PALLAS, said “These isotopes are important for both doctors and patients.  The demand for technetium-99m remains strong and our close collaboration with Curium ensures hospitals will continue to be supplied with this isotope for years to come.”

Frank de Lange, General Manager of Curium Netherlands, said “The stable, global supply of medical isotopes to patients with specific health conditions is critical for accurate diagnosis before the treatment cycle of the patient begins. This partnership guarantees that supply,”.

About technetium-99m from molybdenum-99

Patients undergoing a SPECT scan in hospitals with indications such as cardiovascular diseases or various cancers receive an injection of a tracer—a radioactive substance. The radioactive component, technetium-99m, is derived from the molybdenum-99 manufactured by Curium from low-enriched uranium irradiated by NRG PALLAS.

The irradiation process to produce molybdenum-99currently takes place in the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, the Netherlands, which operates around 260 days per year.  As planned, this role will be taken over by the PALLAS-reactor, expected to be operational from 2030 onwards, which will offer an extended operational window of approximately 300 days per year.  NRG PALLAS has implemented an extensive Long Term Safe Operation program for the HFR to maintain the safety and reliability of the reactor until the transition of irradiations to the PALLAS-reactor.