BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has launched a project to produce molybdenum-99 radioisotope for nuclear medicine, Trend reports citing the organization's website.
The department of Iran's Vice president is the project owner and Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is implementing for Pars Isotope Company, the customer.
According to the report, the molybdenum-99 (which is the basis of the Technetium-99m) is the most widely used radioisotope both in Iran and the world. Thus, about 70 percent of the drugs produced with utilization of radioisotopes are manufactured on the basis of molybdenum-99.
At present, Iran's need for this radioisotope is met by other countries, but the imports will be stopped after the implementation of this project. The outflow of millions of dollars a year from Iran will be prevented and this area will further develop in Iran, the organization said.