, /PRNewswire/ -- SHINE Technologies, a next-generation fusion company, today announced that it has been awarded from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA). The funding was added to DOE/NNSA's existing cooperative agreement with SHINE as part of the agency's efforts to help establish a reliable, U.S.
-produced supply of molybdenum‐99 (Mo-99), the most commonly used medical isotope, without the use of highly enriched uranium. Mo-99 is crucial in nuclear medicine, powering approximately 40 million diagnostic procedures every year which assist in diagnosing life-threatening diseases, including heart disease and cancer. The funds from the DOE/NNSA will aid in the ongoing construction of Chrysalis, SHINE's large-scale, medical isotope facility in .
Upon its completion, Chrysalis will provide a sustainable, reliable source of Mo-99 for the U.S. and satisfy more than one-third of the world's demand.
Current Mo-99 production is limited to only a handful of government-owned nuclear research reactors located abroad. Given Mo-99's half-life, about one-third of the product is lost during cross-continental transportation. SHINE's domestic production capabilities will provide a reliable supply chain to address chronic shortages of critical medicine.
"We are very grateful for the DOE and NNSA's continued support to advance the domestic production of Mo-99, a critical medical isotope," said , founder and CEO of SHINE. "By creating a modern source of .