Framatome, KHNP to investigate producing Lu-177 in South Korea

Framatomeand Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibilityof producing the medical isotopeLutetium-177 at KHNP's Wolsongnuclear power plant in South Korea. The companies also will investigatethe feasibility of using the plantto support Korean production of medicalradioisotopes in the future.

The details:Under theMOU, Framatomeand KHNP will jointly assess the ability of Wolsong'sthree-unit CANDU reactor to produce non-carrier added Lu-177using Framatome'sisotope production technologyalready in use at the Bruce Power nuclear power plant in Canada.

The MOU is similar to one signedwith Nuclearelectrica, operator of Romania's Cernavodanuclear power plant,in November 2023.

The isotope:Lu-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and in multiple promising radiopharmaceutical developments for other cancer indications. The isotope destroys cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

In October 2022, Framatomeannounced it had begun the large-scale commercial production of Lu-177 as part of collaboration with Bruce Power and ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE. The isotope is produced using the Isotope Production System, which was designed and installedin Bruce Power's Unit 7by Isogen, a joint venture of Framatomeand Kinectrics.

They said it:"We anticipate that commercial nuclear reactors will have an increasing role to play to backup and complement research reactors in the production of cancer-fighting radioisotopes," said François Gauché, head of FramatomeHealthcare. "This cooperation will support the future supply chain readiness to make Lutetium-177 treatments massively accessible across the world."

Chang Hee-Seung, executive vice-presidentof theQuality and Technology Division at KHNP, added, "With this initiative, KHNP stays consistent with its social responsibility commitment, by supporting the development of modern nuclear medicine treatments in South Korea while continuing its contribution to stable energy supply and carbon neutrality."