U.S. Department of Energy and Industry Provide Updates on Mo-99 Availability

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) convened a public meeting Aug. 29 for Mo-99 stakeholders to discuss the implementation status of the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2012 (AMIPA). In attendance were multiple federal agency representatives, industry leaders and organizations, including the American College of Radiology® (ACR®).

The ACR-endorsed AMIPA established a DOE program to fund cooperative agreements for research into domestic production of Mo-99/Tc-99m without highly enriched uranium. Several decades of periodic supply volatility due to the short half-life of Mo-99 and the advanced age of international reactor production facilities created a national policy concern. In response, the AMIPA program was intended to help secure medical isotope supply for U.S. patient care while simultaneously meeting the federal government’s overarching nonproliferation objectives. Industry projects partially supported through the AMIPA program have reached key milestones in recent years with approval or construction of new medical isotope production facilities.

NNSA speakers noted that, despite progress by AMIPA cooperative agreement holders toward commercialization, there have been periodic supply shortfalls due to international circumstances in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The government is hopeful the Mo-99 supply will stabilize as AMIPA projects in the United States advance further into commercialization and compete with international producers.

For questions about ACR’s support for a secure supply of Mo-99/Tc-99m and other medical isotopes used frequently in patient care, contact Michael Peters, Senior Government Affairs Director.