A consortium of radiology associations, patient advocacy groups, and radiology vendors are strongly urging the U.S. Senate and House subcommittees on energy and water development to support funding for molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) production in the country.
A provision in legislation in both the Senate and House would allocate $20 million in additional money to continue the development of U.S. sources of Mo-99, the precursor to technetium-99m (Tc-99m). The language is being supported by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Radiology, as well as by patient groups, radiopharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, and medical imaging companies.
The letter to Congress emphasizes that the U.S. still lacks a sufficient Mo-99 supply, despite the passage of the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2012 (AMIPA).
The letter's co-signers, which include SNMMI President Dr. Satoshi Minoshima, PhD, would like all of the $20 million requested by the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration to be designated for the medical isotope program.
