The Cross-Border Biotech Blog

Biotechnology, Health and Business in Canada, the United States and Worldwide

Tag Archives: chalk river

Bill for U.S. Domestic Production of Medical Isotopes Passed by House of Representatives

The shut-down of Ontario’s Chalk River reactor, which used to supply 30% of the world’s medical isotope requirements, and 60% of U.S. isotope needs, has prompted Congressional action in the U.S. Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 3276 — the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009 — finding that “[t]he United States should move expeditiously to [...]

MDS Selling Its Analytical Technologies Business for $650 million, Intends to Sell Pharma Services Business Next

Yesterday, MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) signed an agreement to sell its “analytical technologies” business to Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) for $650 million cash.  Two major shareholders, collectively holding 23%, have signed voting support agreements supporting the sale.  The shareholders meeting is planned for October, with closing later in Q4.  Assets include 1,100 employees operating [...]

I-131! Getchyer Rrrred Hot I-131 Here! Health Canada Approves Alternate Source for Thryoid Cancer Treatment

Draximage has been approved by Health Canada to supply I-131 from South Africa’s Safari reactor to treat Canadian thyroid cancer patients. As the Health Canada press release points out, “[p]roduction of I-131 in Canada was interrupted by the unplanned shutdown of the Chalk River National Research Universal reactor (NRU) in May 2009.” Draximage is a [...]

Chalk River Reactor Isotope Shortage Gets Timing Update, International Attention, Local Solution

The shut-down of Ontario’s Chalk River reactor, one of the few sources of medical isotopes for imaging in the world, is now predicted to last at least three months, and the resulting isotope shortage has been noted by the WSJ’s Health Blog as likely to get “a whole lot worse.” Meanwhile, in Quebec, Sherbrooke University [...]

Medical Isotope Shortage Looms as Canada’s Chalk River Reactor Shuts Down

According to a CBC News report today, Canada’s Chalk River nuclear reactor was shut down for a power outage last Thursday, and Friday inspectors noticed a heavy water leak at the base of the reactor.  The month-long shut down that will be needed for repairs means that only one reactor in the world, the HSR reactor in [...]

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