The Leningrad NPP (branch of Rosenergoatom, Electric Power Division of Rosatom State Corporation), which will celebrate its 50th anniversary on December 23, 2023, is developing the production of medical and industrial isotopes. At power unit No. 4, as part of a press tour, journalists were introduced to the technology of their development.

Medical isotopes help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Cobalt-60 is necessary for the sterilization of medical devices and materials, as well as for extending the shelf life and disinfection of food products. Nuclear plant specialists demonstrated to media representatives the process of preparing to remove materials from the reactor, loading the units into a protective chamber and packaging them for shipment to the customer.

Let us recall that at power units No. 3 and 4 of the Leningrad NPP, four additional irradiation channels have already been put into operation. New production facilities will allow Rosenergoatom to produce a new isotope, lutetium-177, unique in its properties, which is necessary to save the lives of cancer patients. Its production is planned to begin at the Leningrad NPP site in 2024. Permission from Rostechnadzor for this type of activity has already been received.

Vyacheslav Razbash, deputy chief engineer for operation of the second stage of Leningrad NPP: “The Leningrad NPP has been producing isotopes that are used all over the world for more than twenty years, and the unique design of the RBMK-1000 channel reactors allows for continuous production and unloading of isotopes from the reactor “on the fly,” without stopping the power generation process.”

At the moment, Rosenergoatom can rhythmically produce at the power reactors of the Leningrad NPP: molybdenum-99 (activation), iodine-131, samarium-153, used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. At the request of Russian and foreign manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals, Rosenergoatom is expanding the range of isotopes produced in power reactors - it is ready to produce lutetium-177.

“Today, radiopharmaceuticals containing lutetium-177 are used for the effective diagnosis and treatment of many cancer diseases. Treatment with lutetium-177 is also well suited for cases where the disease is in an advanced stage, there are metastases, in particular, with cancer that is resistant to hormonal drugs and chemotherapy, and also if the tumor cannot be removed surgically. The production of this important isotope became possible at once at two power units of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant,” said Alexey Kondratyev, head of the radiation technology department.

Let us recall that at present the Rosenergoatom is one of the key producers of medical radioisotopes for the Russian market. In addition, the generating company produces about 30% of the world's sterilization cobalt-60 consumption from nuclear power reactors. The official supplier of Rosatom isotope complex products to the international market and the key supplier of these products to the domestic market is the company V/O Izotop JSC. As part of the current Rosatom project, following the Leningrad NPP, the experience of producing isotopes for medical purposes is planned to be applied at the Kursk and Smolensk nuclear power plants. Yesterday was a culture of heroism and rush work. Today – confident, rhythmic work.

For reference:

The Rosatom State Corporation considers the development of Russian nuclear medicine technologies as a strategic direction of activity, a contribution to ensuring the sovereignty of our country in the field of healthcare. Rosatom has broad competencies - from the development of isotopes and the production of radiopharmaceuticals to the development and production of heavy medical equipment and the construction of its own medical infrastructure facilities.

JSC V/O Isotope (part of the Health Technologies division of the Rosatom State Corporation) is an industry integrator in the field of turnover and promotion of isotope products of the enterprises of the Rosatom State Corporation. Among the partners of JSC “V/O “Izotop” are 170 foreign companies located in 50 countries, and about 600 organizations in Russia, including medical institutions, industrial enterprises and scientific organizations. In 2023, JSC “V/O “Izotop” celebrates its anniversary - the 65th anniversary of its foundation.

To provide the drug independence of our country, Rosatom is implementing a major project in the field of healthcare - the construction in Obninsk of Europe's largest plant for the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

In 2025, 21 technological lines of the new plant will allow the production of radiopharmaceutical products for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of socially significant diseases, including inoperable metastatic forms of cancer. The plant will be built following the global GMP standard, which is a guarantee of quality, safety of production and use of dosage forms.

In general, the market for radiation technologies, where isotopes are used, is assessed by business experts in the future to be comparable to the nuclear energy market: this includes modern diagnostics in medicine, and transport safety systems, and new means of water and air purification, microelectronics, light industry, metallurgy and other directions.

Strengthening technological sovereignty is one of the key tasks outlined by the President.