Radiologists north of the border rejoice: Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc. will soon have that molybdenum-99 you’ve been longing for.
The radioactive isotope has been in short supply worldwide since a Canadian reactor that produced a third of the global supply of isotopes went offline in May.
The Billerica diagnostic imaging device maker inked a deal with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization to receive Mo-99, which it will use to produce technetium-99m, another commonly used medical imaging isotope.
Canada’s health ministry gave the nod to Lantheus to sell Tc-99m north of the border and the company says it’s working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for similar approval.