The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has set the stage to begin negotiations with four companies to produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in the U.S.
The agency has completed its evaluation of applications for funding of Mo-99 production without highly enriched uranium (HEU). It has selected four companies as possible recipients based on the recommendations of an independent technical review panel:
- NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes of Beloit, WI
- Shine Medical Technologies of Janesville, WI
- Northwest Medical Isotopes of Corvallis, OR
- Niowave of Lansing, MI
With funding support from Congress, the NNSA could allocate as much as $15 million for each company, with a long-range goal of supplying approximately 3,000 six-day Ci of Mo-99 per week in the U.S.
In addition, the NNSA will continue funding the National Laboratories to advance industry efforts to produce Mo-99 without HEU.
