Taskforce recommends precautionary steps to cope with radiopharmaceutical shortages

A taskforce established by the European Commission after last year's shortage of radiopharmaceutical supplies in Europe has recommended precautions be taken to deal with any repeats of these problems.

This follows a 2008 summer temporary shutdown of the Netherlands" High Flux Reactor in Petten, which produces 60% of radioisotopes used in European radiopharmaceuticals.

The task force has now recommended better co-ordination of scheduled maintenance of such reactors and that their uranium use targets be standardised.

Looking ahead, the taskforce noted that radioisotope reactors in Europe and elsewhere "are old and by 2015, most of them will have to permanently close down", maybe forcing the upgrade of existing research reactors to radioisotope production. As a result, "an inventory of the reactors and their production capabilities [plus] the current and future need of radiopharmaceuticals in the EU" was needed, said a taskforce report.

It also noted discussions at the European Medicines Agency about considering "alternative diagnostic/therapeutic procedures" to radiopharmaceuticals.