Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: Driving forces for the security of medical radioisotopes supply

Background

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan reflects a political commitment to leave no stone unturned to take action against cancer.

Radiological and nuclear technologies are indispensable in the fight against cancer. They contribute significantly to all stages of cancer patients' care, including early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.

Each year, up to 10 million European patients rely on nuclear medicine imaging to diagnose cancer, cardiac diseases, etc. Tens of thousands of patients rely on radionuclide therapy, often for cancers without alternative treatment. Therapeutic uses are developing and demand is growing.

European researchers and companies have developed some of the most recent radionuclide cancer treatments, e.g. endocrine and prostate cancer pharmaceuticals based on Lutetium-177.

Despite being a leader in the supply of medical radioisotopes to the world market, the EU network of research reactors used to produce radioisotopes is quite old (on average, about 50 years old) and several reactors are expected to be permanently shut down in the next 10 years. Current projections show that at least one new research reactor is needed for the EU to be able to meet its own demand in the future.

At the same time, the EU is fully dependent on the US (about 80%) and Russia (the remaining 20%) for the supply of metallic, high-assay, low enriched uranium (enrichment to 19.75% Uranium-235) for research reactor fuels and radioisotope production targets.

There are strong EU dependencies on the supply of stable isotope targets for the production of some medical radioisotopes. This includes 100% dependence on Russia for the supply of stable isotopes for the production of some modern therapeutic radioisotopes, e.g. the stable Yterbium-176 for production of Lutetium-177.

Given the growing needs for radioisotopes, the EU has to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes in the long term in order to maintain EU patients' access to vital medical procedures and support the development of new cancer treatments.

The EU's comprehensive action plan to support safe, high quality and reliable use of radiological and nuclear technology in healthcare is endorsed as the SAMIRA Action Plan. The action plan defines EU actions in three priority areas: securing the supply of medical radioisotopes, improving radiation quality and safety in medicine, and facilitating innovation and the technological development of medical ionising radiation applications.

The own-initiative opinion will focus on how to ensure that the demand for medical radioisotopes is satisfied, taking into account Europe's dependencies, the ageing of its nuclear fleet, the lack of human resources in the sector and, above all, the growing demand. It will provide answers on how to mitigate dependencies and reflect on the need for EU-level action, including strengthening cooperation with global partners.

Key points

The EESC:

• highlights the need to ensure that all patients in Europe have equal access to cancer treatment. Member States should make funding for medical radiological and nuclear technologies a priority and cooperate among each other to remove regulatory barriers to radioisotopes supply.
• calls for production incentives ensuring better strategic autonomy in the supply of radioisotopes. In this regard, it calls to carefully monitor the supply of radioisotopes in Europe and support bolstering industrial competitiveness in this sector.
• calls on the Commission to ensure financing of strategic projects of common interest in this area under the EU’s future Multiannual Financial Framework

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/833

Opinion type: Own-initiative

Rapporteur: Alena Mastantuono (Group I - Czech Republic)

Co-rapporteur: Philippe Charry (Group II - France)

Date of adoption by section: 16 May 2024

Result of the vote: 54 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 30-31 May 2024

Result of the vote: 148 in favour, 3 against, 5 abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903

E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu

Maja Radman

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 9051

E-mail: maja.radman@eesc.europa.eu