Radioisotope firm Nordion and nuclear reactor operator Bruce Power have signed a memorandum of understanding to supply medical-grade cobalt-60 -- also known as high specific activity (HSA) cobalt-60 -- for use in radiotherapy procedures.
Nordion had been receiving its supply of HSA cobalt-60 primarily from the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, for more than six decades. However, the Chalk River reactor will reach the end of its useful life in a few years, and the new agreement will allow the development of a novel approach to create an additional supply source from Bruce Power, according to the companies.
Bruce Power already supplies Nordion with cobalt-60 from its Bruce B facility for use in sterilizing medical supplies. Both Nordion and Bruce Power now plan to complete a range of activities in 2016 to further develop the additional supply capability and carry out the appropriate technical, commercial, and regulatory due diligence.
