Problems in Clinical Practice of Domestic Supply of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc:Issues on Radiopharmaceutical Manufacture Using Domestically Produced ⁹⁹Mo

Abstract

The trouble of ⁹⁹Mo delivery that occurred in 2009 has led to the discussion of the domestic production of ⁹⁹Mo. The production method that is now being considered is the neutron activation method. This method uses either ⁹⁸Mo or ¹⁰⁰Mo, whose natural abundance ratios are 24% and 10%, respectively, as the target to yield ⁹⁹Mo and differs from the present fission method that uses ²³⁵U. The neutron activation method is effective in terms of the management of nuclear non-proliferation and waste disposal, but there are many issues to be solved in order to stably produce ^99mTc solution that is suited for radiopharmaceutical manufacture.