First Light Fusion, a fusion energy company based in Oxford, UK, is collaborating with IDOM UK Nuclear Services to explore potential pharmaceutical applications of its projectile fusion reactor process. First Light Fusion uses an approach called inertial confinement fusion, similar to the method used by the National Ignition Facility. However, instead of lasers, First Light uses a launched projectile to create extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion. The collaboration with IDOM focuses on designing the fusion reactor chamber for a pilot fusion energy power plant. The project also aims to use the high-energy neutrons produced by fusion to generate radionuclides for medical applications. This presents a new revenue opportunity for First Light in the growing medical isotope market, which is expected to be worth $11 billion by 2027. The demand for isotopes is increasing for the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses including cancer, and First Light's approach offers a simpler and more cost-effective way to produce these isotopes.
Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:16:52 GMT | PharmiWeb.com