S.Korea's DuChemBio localizes core materials of radiopharmaceuticals

South Korea's DuChemBio Co. announced on Thursday that it has obtained final approval for a recovery and purification facility for oxygen-18 concentration and recycling from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS).

Oxygen-18 is a critical material used in the production of radiopharmaceuticals. It is so rare that it makes up only 0.2% of regular water (H₂O). To use it as a core ingredient in radiopharmaceuticals, it needs to be concentrated to around 98%.

Domestic radiopharmaceutical manufacturers in South Korea import it from countries like Japan, China, and the US. 

Any disruption in the supply of oxygen-18 concentrate would make it impossible to produce essential diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals not only for cancer patients but also for patients with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Recent increases in demand for radiopharmaceuticals in the global market have raised concerns about future supply shortages, and the domestic industry is grappling with the difficulty of rising prices.

DuChemBio, as a leading radiopharmaceutical company, has been jointly developing oxygen-18 concentration and recycling technology with material specialist QuTope for the past two years. With the recent government approval, oxygen-18 recycling and production is expected to become possible on a large scale.

The two companies aim to secure a stable supply of raw materials, leading to cost reduction and improved profitability. Additionally, they plan to explore import substitution and entry into overseas markets.

Write to Yoo-Rim Kim at youforest@hankyung.com