BWX Technologies (BWXT) has successfully labeled technetium-99m (Tc-99m) derived from its proprietary molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) production process and its proprietary Tc-99m generators, utilizing cold kits, the company announced on Tuesday.
“Our superior technology will improve continuity of supply for this vital diagnostic tool at a lower cost. Previous internal testing had proven that our technology meets the generic product specifications, and these latest results showed that our technology will be a drop-in replacement for existing generator,.” said Rex Geveden, BWXT’s president and chief executive officer.
BWXT will utilize cold kit labeling to achieve regulatory and commercial market acceptance for the company’s Tc-99m generator. The successful kits, which included bicisate, exametazime, macroaggregated albumin, mebrofenin, medronate, mertiatide, sestamibi, sulfur colloid and tetrofosmin, will help improve industry quality control and thin layer chromatography testing
The company has also completed a variety development activities to improve its manufacturing capacity, including target and target delivery system design, production technology development, development of quality assurance/quality control methods and finalization of facility designs
As BWXT continues to advance its labeling, the company has entered into agreements with other labs to develop and implement new technologies. BWXT recently entered into a reactor services agreement with the University of Missouri to irradiate proprietary BWXT targets in the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR) for use by BWXT in production of Mo-99. MURR provided the irradiated targets that BWXT used in its successful Tc-99m cold kit labeling.
Dr. Mihaela Ginj, the radiopharmacy operations lead at Toronto General Hospital, part of the University Health Network. “I’m encouraged by this technology and its ability to fit into the existing radiopharmacy and nuclear medicine infrastructure. It allows me to be optimistic about a more diversified and reliable Mo-99 supply for nuclear medicine professionals and patients in North America.’’
About BWXT
At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. Headquartered in Lynchburg, Va., BWXTprovides safe and effective nuclear solutions for national security, clean energy, environmental remediation, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With approximately 6,600 employees, BWXT has 12 major operating sites in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, BWXT joint ventures provide management and operations at more than a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities.
