IAEA activities on 67Cu, 186Re, 47Sc Theranostic radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals

Despite interesting properties, the use of 67Cu, 186Re and 47Sc theranostic radionuclides in preclinical studies and clinical trials is curtailed by their limited availability due to a lack of widely established production methods. An IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) was initiated to identify important technical issues related to the production and quality control of these emerging radionuclides and related radiopharmaceuticals, based on the request from IAEA Member States. The international team worked on targetry, separation, quality control and radiopharmaceutical aspects of the radionuclides obtained from research reactors and cyclotrons leading to preparation of a standard recommendations for all Member States. The CRP was initiated in 2016 with fourteen participants from thirteen Member States from four continents. Extraordinary results on the production, quality control and preclinical evaluation of selected radionuclides were reported in this project that was finalized in 2020. The outcomes, outputs and results of this project achieved by participating Member States are described in this minireview

Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals Labelled with Copper-67, Rhenium-186 and Scandium-47 (IAEA-TECDOC-1945)

Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals have shown tremendous capabilities in the last decade in the treatment and diagnosis of human diseases via nuclear medicine procedures. In particular, the use of radiometals has experienced a great increase as a result of the development of relevant production technologies. This publication presents the outcome of an IAEA coordinated research project (CRP) focusing on the production, quality control and radiopharmaceutical aspects of three key radionuclides, 67CU, 186Re and 47Sc, which have been selected based on their theranostic potential and their dual production routes. The publication was compiled using inputs from experts in the field as well as presenting the overall results of the CRP. It contains separate sections for each radionuclide including: nuclear data and information on targetry, irradiation, chemical separation, quality control as well as sample radiopharmaceutical production. The findings and considerations will be of use to scientists and technologists interested in translating research reactor and cyclotron based radioisotope production into practice, as well as to post graduate students in the field