War In Ukraine Snaps Supply Of Rare Cancer Treatment Molecule

The war in Ukraine has snapped imports of a key radioactive isotope used in advanced cancer treatment, prompting top medical institutions in the country to look for less effective alternatives.

- Somrita Ghosh

For more than a year, there has been no import of Actinium-225, which used to come from Russia via Germany, said Dr C.S. Bal, head of the department of nuclear medicine at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Although Actinium-225 is found in nature, nuclear facilities and technology are required to separate it from other isotopes and obtain a sizable purified amount.

"Actinium is not available for the last one year, since the war between Russia and Ukraine started. Russia is the hub of world's radionuclides.

Unfortunately, Russia has got the raw material but does not make the final product. It is procured by Germany and from there, it is shipped to all other countries including India," Dr Bal said. Radionuclides, also called radioactive materials, emit radiation as their atomic nuclei house excess neutrons or protons.