Peruvian institute boosts cancer treatment with nuclear medicine
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The Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy (IPEN) produces radioisotopes used to diagnose and treat over 42,000 patients with cancer and other illnesses each year in Peru.
Since the 1990s, IPEN has operated a research reactor and production plant to create materials for nuclear medicine. One key product is technetium-99m, a radioisotope doctors use to assess how well organs and tissues function, offering information beyond what standard X-rays reveal.
Because technetium-99m’s radioactivity decreases over roughly six hours, IPEN coordinates production with daily demand and precise delivery schedules. IPEN also manufactures iodine-131, which treats hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, supplying medical centers in Lima and regions including Arequipa, Cusco, and La Libertad. The institute creates samarium-153 on request, providing palliative care for severe pain in advanced cancer patients and improving their quality of life.
IPEN’s production plant adheres to strict health standards, including Good Manufacturing and Good Laboratory Practices, to ensure the safety of these products for patients. The institute plans production based on daily needs, considering transit times for these short-lived materials.
