TOMSK, Aug 28 – RIA Tomsk. Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) released trial batch of isotopes of chemical element lutetium for the first time in Russia; it will become basis of radiopharmaceuticals for radiation therapy of tumors, these drugs will have less side effects unlike analogues, the rector of the university Petr Chubik told journalists on Wednesday.
Earlier it was reported that TPU plans to launch the first production of lutetium-177 in Russia at the university reactor, which will become the basis of radiopharmaceuticals for radiation therapy of malignant neoplasms.
Without side effects
These days studies to obtain lutetium-177, which went on for two years, successfully completed. On Wednesday, the Governor of the Tomsk region Sergei Zhvachkin visited the research nuclear reactor TPU, whose employees invented a new technology for obtaining lutetium-177.
"Lutetius is a pharmaceutical, the main purpose of which is not diagnostics, but therapy. We first received lutetium-177 not from lutetium-176, but from the isotope ytterbium-176. This allowed to remove excess substances in it and make it much more "pure." This should provide a good therapeutic effect. <…> It is a development, which has no equal in Russia", – Chubik said.
"Our lutetium-177 has a unique property to act locally, its decay is not accompanied by the emission of rigid gamma radiation, as a result of which the surrounding tissues do not suffer, there is no side effect", – he noted.
First batch
According to Shamanin, now isotopes of lutetium-177 is not produced in Russia. TPU produced the first experimental batch, the university carried out internal audit and certification, after which the drugs were sent to the consumer.
"Consumers explore our goods by their own methods. At the moment, it suits everyone. When our potential consumer – the Center of Molecular Research (Moscow) - issues us a certificate, after that we can declare ourselves", – the scientist said, noting that the certification process will be completed approximately in October.
According to him, the production line will be located on the basis of the reactor of the Tomsk Polytechnic University, which is the only active nuclear research reactor in the country at a university. The technology of polytechnics will allow to produce the volumes needed by potential customers in the future.
'It 's a cut above than the diagnosis that exists in the world today. We are completing the construction of PET-center on oncology, building the surgical building of oncology clinic. This (construction of the surgical corps. – Ed.) is the last link, and it would be impossible if there was no scientific feed in the form of those drugs that are produced here", – the Governor added.
The head of the region instructed his Deputy for Scientific and Educational Complex Ludmila Ogorodova and Deputy for Social Policy Ivan Deev to develop a road map for the introduction of the new drug.