Russia Advances Radiopharmaceutical Development, Plans to Expand into Diagnostics and Treatment of Heart Disease and Other Conditions

Rosatom is developing radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, and rheumatic conditions, further expanding the application of radionuclide technology in medicine.

During the 13th International Technology Development Forum “Technoprom-2026” held in Novosibirsk, Sergei Surov, Director of the Department of Radionuclide Products and Nuclear Medicine at Rosatom's Science Division, stated that the company is advancing the development of these drugs. Radiopharmaceuticals typically contain radioactive isotopes, i.e., radionuclides, and are currently used in medicine primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers.

Surov stated that the new development directions mean the application of radiopharmaceuticals is no longer limited to oncology, but is expected to expand to more diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios across a wider range of diseases. He noted that this will broaden the scope of both existing and investigational drugs, and also change the conventional perception that radiopharmaceuticals primarily serve cancer treatment.

It was also reported that Rosatom launched the construction of a radiopharmaceutical production facility in the Kaluga Region in early 2023. This week, the first two production lines at the facility entered trial operation, with sample batch production and testing to be carried out to verify compliance with relevant requirements and quality standards. The facility is planned to reach its designed capacity by 2028, at which point it will be used to meet the demand of Russia's healthcare system for modern radiopharmaceuticals.