Iran joins the global top 3 of radiopharmaceutical producers.
The country stands out in the fight against cancer with advances in nuclear medicine and exports to 15 countries.
247 Iran has consolidated its position among the world's three largest producers of radiopharmaceuticals, manufacturing approximately 70 different types and supplying more than 6,6 nuclear medicine centers. (Source: [Source not provided in the original text]) TV BRICS.
The progress has significantly reduced dependence on imports and positioned the country as a regional leader in the field, according to Mehr News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS, based on data from the Iranian Vice Presidency of Science, Technology and Knowledge Economy.
Domestic production of radiopharmaceuticals began in 2009, in partnership with the Atomic Energy Agency. Currently, in addition to meeting domestic demand by supplying 230 hospitals and thousands of medical centers, the country exports the products to 15 nations, generating an estimated revenue of US$70 million (approximately R$392 million) in 2025.
Essential to nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals are fundamental in the early detection and treatment of various types of cancer. Unlike conventional exams, such as CT scans or MRI, nuclear imaging captures the metabolic activity of tissues, allowing the identification of tumors and hidden metastases. This is possible because the radioactive substances used concentrate in regions with high glucose consumption—a common characteristic of cancer cells.
