MDS Nordion urges Government of Canada to address medical isotope supply shortage.(NEWS / NOUVELLES)

MDS Nordion, a provider of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals is recommending that the Government of Canada and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited consult with international experts to activate the MAPLE project to address the current shortage of medical isotopes created by the shutdown of the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor at Chalk River, ON, in order to avoid similar disruptions in the future.

"The current NRU shutdown--and the shutdown of November 2007--illustrates the fragility and unpredictability of the global medical-isotope supply system, and highlights the requirement for new research reactor capacity to deliver a reliable long-term supply of medical isotopes," said Steve West, president of MDS Nordion.

"The solution to the global medical isotope crisis is in Canada. The infrastructure is in place, and with the assistance of an international consortium of nuclear experts, the MAPLE facilities could be producing medical isotopes to the benefit of patients worldwide."

Presently, there are no domestic or international sources of supply to offset the shortage that MDS Nordion says has caused disruptions to patient care.

MDS Nordion has requested that the government direct AECL to honour its commitment to replace the NRU by bringing the MAPLE facilities into service.

MDS Nordion

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