Healthcare technology firm Covidien of Dublin, Ireland, predicts molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) may be in short supply in late August and early September, even as two nuclear reactors proceed toward restart of services.
In its latest supply update, Covidien forecasts a significant shortage of technetium-99m (Tc-99m) generator production from August 23 through September 4.
Covidien will continue to receive additional Mo-99 from the Polish Maria reactor and other suppliers in August and September.
The company added that Mo-99 supplies will improve when Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) returns its National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, to service as soon as next week.
Radiopharmaceutical producer Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group is progressing on the restart of its High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, the Netherlands, with a return-to-service date anticipated for early September.
Supplies also should increase when HRF resumes Mo-99 production.
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