Trends in indigenous radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical production in Bangladesh

There are 17 nuclear medicine centres (NMC) in Bangladesh which are distributed all over the country. The objective of RIPD is to produce short lived radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for these NMCs. Iodine-131 generated during irradiation of natural TeO2 in the 3 MW TRIGA research reactor is separated by dry distillation method. Recently two independent dry distillation apparatus were installed in the 131I production plant for alternate use at RIPD. Since July 2003 more than 11Ci of 131I solution has been produced. At present, on average, 300mCi of 131I is produced on a weekly basis by irradiating about 38.5g of TeO2 at 2.5 MW for 15 h of interrupted irradiation. Due to the limitation in reactor operation time and target size, RIPD meets only a part of country's demand for 131I. Increase of reactor operation time and installation of more dry central thimble (DCT) in the reactor to irradiate more than one target at a time is under active consideration of the authority. Equipment for diagnostic and therapeutic 131I capsule production has recently been installed at RIPD. Test production of diagnostic 131I capsules has been done successfully. Therapeutic capsule production will be started when 131I solution with required radioactive concentration will be available. RIPD started its activity with the production of instant 99mTc by solvent extraction method by irradiating natural molybdenum (as MoO3) target in 1987. In 1988 the Division produced 99mTc-sublimation generator by irradiating titanium molybdate in the reactor. A facility for the production of chromatographic 99mTc-generator was installed at RIPD under IAEA TC Project BGD/4/014 in 1997. In this facility four 99mTc-generators per batch can be produced. So far 100 batches of 15GBq 99mTc-generators have been produced from imported fission 99Mo. Yearly production of 99mTc-generatos is shown in Fig.1. Users comment regarding the quality and performance of the locally produced 99mTc-generator are quite satisfactory. At present, RIPD meets 20% demand of 99mTc-generators in the country. Generator production at RIPD is cost effective. The cost of the local product is less than 50% with respect to that of the imported generators. In order to meet the country's entire demand for 99mTc-generators by local product, a Technical Cooperation Project (BGD/2/010) with the IAEA is under implementation. A 99mTc generator plant with a capacity of producing 50 generators per batch will be installed at RIPD soon. When the new plant goes into operation, RIPD will be able to replace the import by local product. The demand of in vivo 99mTc kits in Bangladesh is more than 6 000 vials per year. A programme to establish a kit preparation facility at RIPD has been approved under the government's three year (2005-2008) rolling plan. In conclusion, RIPD is working on building up indigenous capability for production and supply of main radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine in Bangladesh