The JAEA has set its sights on utilizing their Joyo experimental fast reactor located in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture, to produce medical radioisotopes for cancer treatment. Specifically, they are looking to harness actinium-225, a radioactive substance with the potential to be used as a cancer treatment drug. By developing a therapy that involves injecting a drug containing actinium-225 directly into the patient's body, the JAEA aims to revolutionize cancer treatment by targeting and eliminating cancer cells more effectively.
The JAEA officials emphasized that using a fast reactor to produce actinium-225 is a unique and innovative approach that has not been widely adopted globally. Their target is to begin manufacturing the radioisotope by the end of fiscal 2026, showcasing their commitment to advancing cancer research and treatment options. Furthermore, a collaboration agreement between the JAEA and the National Cancer Center Japan was signed to facilitate research and development of cancer therapies leveraging actinium-225.
Currently, the global supply of actinium-225 is limited, resulting in only a small number of patients receiving treatment each year. Therefore, the JAEA's initiative to produce this radioisotope in the Joyo reactor could potentially address the scarcity issue and expand the availability of cancer treatments. Despite the Joyo reactor being offline since 2007 due to equipment failures, the JAEA is determined to reactivate it by the middle of fiscal 2026 and is in the process of securing necessary approvals from authorities in Ibaraki Prefecture and the town of Oarai.