– What is the purpose of Rusatom Healthcare?
– Its purpose is to market comprehensive nuclear medicine and commercial irradiation solutions. Rosatom often spins off a particular line of business to create a dedicated responsibility center. Rusatom Healthcare is an integrated responsibility center in charge of nuclear medicine and commercial irradiation technologies.
– Is the company focused on foreign markets?
– It is not correct to draw a line between foreign and domestic markets in our situation. Any product we promote should be meant for the global market and target the widest range of customers. A truly competitive product cannot be tailored for Russia’s needs only and should be good enough to find customers all over the world.
– What other companies are in Rusatom Healthcare’s division?
– The division includes Isotope, Rosatom’s Research Institute of Applied Physics and Automation, Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, United Innovation Corporation, RusReaktor, Center for Advanced Diagnostics, Snezhinsk Nuclear Medical Technologies and others. In fact, we work closely with many of Rosatom Group companies, particularly those involved in the production or innovative treatment and processing of various components for nuclear medicine. We work with Efremov Research Institute on cyclotrons and accelerators, as well as Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, Institute of Reactor Materials, Electrokhimpribor, TVEL, Mayak Production Association, and Leipunsky Institute of Physics and Power Engineering. Historically competent in nuclear equipment, irradiation and isotope technologies, these companies and institutes will now have Rusatom Healthcare as a partner that will support investment and product promotion projects. All these companies have vast experience and competencies, hundreds of highly qualified professionals, unique technologies and patents.
– What products can Rusatom Healthcare offer its foreign partners?
– We offer an integrated turn-key solution for nuclear medicine centers. We can design, construct and maintain such facilities throughout their entire life cycle. We also offer individual components of this integrated offer. Rosatom produces and delivers radiopharmaceuticals and medical isotopes, such as molybdenum-99, cobalt-60, iodine-131, iodine-124, and many others. Rosatom can deliver diagnostic and treatment equipment produced both in-house and by our partners.
– Special attention should be paid to the isotope market, with supply tightening over the last few years, shouldn’t it?
– Indeed, there is still a shortage of supply. Some of the existing technologies available on the market are able to meet the growing demand. Despite this, supply shows no sign of radical change, and we see our task as broader application of these technologies in order to produce more isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. We have recently launched a project for the GMP compliant production of radiopharmaceuticals at the Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry. The project will be a final link in the end-to-end, best practice value chain – from fabrication of radionuclides to ready-to-use pharmaceuticals.
– What share in the isotope market could Rusatom Healthcare win?
– Our goal is to expand our current share of about 5% to 20% by 2030.
– Commercial use of irradiation technologies is a top priority of Rusatom Healthcare. An agreement has been recently signed with India to establish a network of multi-functional irradiation centers. Could you give more details on the project?
– The project provides for stepwise construction of seven food irradiation centers in India to be operated through a joint venture. Major consumers of irradiation services are manufacturers of disposable medical products and foods (spices, fruit, vegetables, cereal products). Present-day irradiation methods use either gamma units with cobalt-60 or linear accelerators (linacs). Linacs are the most efficient for the treatment of medical products while gamma units are required to treat large volumes of agricultural produce. They are automatically loaded with large product pallets exposed to cobalt rays. All irradiation centers in India will be based on Russian technologies. It means that Rosatom will act both as a designer and equipment supplier, and will support the centers throughout their life cycle.
– Are these products sought after in other countries?
– Sure. Much interest is paid to irradiation technology in Latin America and Southeast Asia. With radiophobia receding into the background, people realize what benefits they can reap from nuclear technologies. Rosatom is ready to make its contribution and offer the best solutions.
