Superconducting accelerator technology firm Niowave said it has completed its first production run of the molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) radioisotope.
In an initial demonstration generated under an isotope production license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Niowave produced Mo-99 -- the parent isotope to technetium-99m (Tc-99m) -- with a superconducting electron linear accelerator. Niowave claims to be the first U.S. company in more than 25 years to produce Mo-99 by splitting uranium.
The production method does not require a nuclear reactor or highly enriched uranium (HEU), and it can be incorporated directly into the existing radiopharmaceutical supply chain, according to the vendor. Niowave said it plans to move quickly to full-scale Mo-99 production.
