Framatome and SN Nuclearelectrica SA (BVB:SNN) announced today the signature of a long-term cooperation agreement to produce medical isotope Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania. Lutetium-177 is used for a variety of lifesaving cancer treatments.
During a special ceremony hosted by the French Ambassador in Bucharest, Nicolas Warnery, and attended by Mr. Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Dr. Tiberius Marius Brădățan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, and other top officials, Framatome and SN Nuclearelectrica officially signed the strategic partnership for the production of the medical isotope Lutetium-177 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant.
"Nuclearelectrica's involvement in this large-scale project brings Romania into the elite of the global nuclear industry, concerned not only with clean energy production, but also with innovative health solutions. The Government led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu strongly supports this project, as well as all initiatives that improve people's quality of life, including through the discovery and introduction of state-of-the-art medical treatments," said the Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu.
“Romania is today taking an important step towards the development of nuclear medicine and ensuring patient access to advanced cancer treatments. The production of the Lutetium-177 isotope is a key achievement for public health, as this radioisotope enables modern therapies that directly target cancer cells, thus offering a precise and minimally invasive treatment. This project reflects Romania's commitment to support research and innovation in the field of applied medical technologies, strengthening our ability to respond to national and regional needs for radioisotopes. At a time of increasing global demand for such resources, it is essential that Romania contributes to the development and diversification of these vital solutions for patients. We are confident that this initiative will have a positive impact on the health system, providing concrete support in the fight against oncologic diseases and demonstrating the potential of nuclear technologies to bring significant benefits in the medical field. By supporting such projects, we aim to ensure continuity of access to innovative treatments and contribute to the development of a robust and sustainable healthcare infrastructure capable of responding to the most complex health challenges," stated Prof. Alexandru Rafila, PhD, Minister of Health in Romania.
“For decades, Romania and France have shared a common vision of nuclear energy and its contribution to both decarbonization and sovereignty. This collaboration on Lutetium-177 marks a significant achievement, reflecting our two countries' commitment to working together to foster European self-sufficiency in radioisotopes. It also highlights a frequently underestimated positive aspect of nuclear energy: its potential for innovation and its critical role in nuclear medicine,” said the French Ambassador to Romania, Nicolas Warnery.
Lutetium-177, crucial in advanced oncology treatments, will be produced using Framatome technology. The event highlighted the joint commitment to public health, contributing to the fight against cancer through advanced nuclear medical solutions, marking a significant milestone in the field of nuclear medicine in Romania.
“Nuclear technologies play a crucial role in modern healthcare. They are essential in the fight against cancer and Framatome has a long-standing presence in the field of healthcare,” said Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome. “We are proud to bring our innovative isotope production technology and join forces with SNN to strengthen the supply chain for lifesaving radioisotopes in Europe.”
Earlier this year, the two companies announced the successful completion of a joint feasibility study which demonstrated the suitability of Framatome technology to irradiate Ytterbium-176 at Unit 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, at the market technical standard required to produce Lutetium-based radiopharmaceuticals. Framatome and SNN are now progressing with the detailed engineering and industrialization phase, targeting first production batches for radiopharmaceuticals manufacturing in 2028.
"This partnership with Framatome for the production of Lutetium-177 demonstrates our dedication to supporting innovation in nuclear medicine and contributing to advanced cancer treatments. Through this initiative, Romania is aligning with international efforts to develop more effective medical solutions for patients around the world," said Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
The project also aims to secure an adequate supply of Lu-177 to meet Romania's domestic needs for the production and supply of radiopharmaceuticals.
Lu-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and in multiple promising radiopharmaceutical developments for other cancer indications. The isotope destroys cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Framatome’s proprietary isotope production technology enabled the first large-scale commercial production of Lu-177 in a power reactor in June 2022.
