Construction complete of new Mo-99 processing facility in Wisconsin
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes announced Tuesday, July 16, that the construction of its new processing facility for molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is now complete.
The facility was built in Beloit, Wisconsin, and is 20,000 square feet. NorthStar will use its RadioGenix System generators to turn the Mo-99 into the imaging radioisotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m).
“Construction completion of our Beloit, Wis. Mo-99 processing facility is a significant marker of NorthStar’s progress, as we continue to execute on our plan to meet customer demand and ensure reliable, non-uranium based radioisotope supply for the United States,” Stephen Merrick, NorthStar president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. “We are grateful to Corporate Contractors Incorporated, the lead contractor for this complex construction project, for ensuring that the building handover has occurred on schedule, and installation of equipment for the facility is underway.”
In the same statement, Merrick said that the company’s RadioGenix Systems are already providing customers with Tc-99m for important diagnostic imaging examinations. He also noted that the current supply chain for Mo-99 “has been impacted by almost weekly disruptions, some being pronounced and lengthy,” in the last several months.
The new facility is scheduled to begin processing Mo-99 after NorthStar receives FDA approval.