DXA Screening Among U.S. Medicare Population Declines 35% Over Nearly Two Decades

A new study shows that between 2005 and 2023, the rate of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations among U.S. Medicare beneficiaries declined significantly, by 35%. DXA is commonly used for bone density testing and osteoporosis-related screening, and the findings suggest that disparities in screening access across different populations are widening. Researchers analyzed claims data from more than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries. The results showed that DXA utilization fell from 7,255 exams per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2005 to 4,690 per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2023. The study was published in Osteoporosis International. The decline was not uniform across populations...

2026-08-08

Cancer Cryoablation Treatments at Southeast Region Nuclear Medicine Center in Korea Exceed 100 Cases

The Southeast Region Nuclear Medicine Center announced on August 8 that since introducing cancer cryoablation in 2024, the center has completed over 100 related procedures, providing treatment to a total of 104 cancer patients. Cryoablation is a minimally invasive tumor treatment method. During the procedure, doctors insert a thin treatment needle precisely into the tumor site under CT or ultrasound imaging guidance, freezing the lesion at ultra-low temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius or lower to cause cancer cell necrosis. As the low-temperature freezing itself has a certain anesthetic effect, this technique helps reduce patient pain, minimize damage to surrounding normal tissues, and promote faster postoperative recovery. According to the center, among the patients treated so far, there are 58 cases of liver cancer and liver metastases, 17 cases of primary lung cancer, recurrent lung cancer, and lung metastases, and 29 cases of renal cancer. Among them, 8 patients underwent treatment for two lesions simultaneously in a single procedure. Liver...

2026-08-08

China's First Homegrown Radiopharmaceutical Receives Dual FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track Designations

On August 6, Nuoyu Medical announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) and Fast Track Designation (FTD) to the company's independently developed 68Ga-NYM096. This marks the first product in China's original radiopharmaceutical field to receive FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, and the first to receive both FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations simultaneously, creating a milestone breakthrough in the radiopharmaceutical field. 68Ga-NYM096 is a small-molecule diagnostic radiopharmaceutical for renal cancer that specifically binds to CAIX, suitable for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of suspected or confirmed metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (c...

2026-08-08

CNNC Fuzhi Officially Established, CNNC Isotope Holds 90% Stake to Integrate the Full Nuclear Medicine Industry Chain

On August 6, 2026, CNNC Fuzhi (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CNNC Fuzhi") was officially established. The company was jointly funded by CNNC Isotope Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CNNC Isotope") and CNNC (Zhejiang) Innovation Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CNNC Zhejiang Innovation"), with CNNC Isotope holding 90% of the shares and CNNC Zhejiang Innovation holding 10%. CNNC Fuzhi will take over the business of CNNC Isotope's Nuclear Medicine Development Center, focusing on deep cultivation in the smart nuclear medicine sector. With the smart nuclear medicine IoT system as its core carrier, the company aims to integrate the entire nuclear medicine industry chain, build a synergistic development model of "smart nuclear medicine system + nuclear drugs + equipment + services," and drive the business transition from single product supply to full value chain integration...

2026-08-08

Professor Lin Guoxian from the BC Cancer Agency Delivers Academic Exchange at the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Lin Guoxian: Professor at the BC Cancer Agency, whose research focuses on the development of targeted radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of various tumors. To date, he has led/participated in the publication of over 135 peer-reviewed journal articles, filed more than 30 patent applications related to radiopharmaceuticals, and completed the clinical translation of 7 self-developed radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple tumor types. During the seminar, Professor Lin Guoxian, based on his team's years of frontier exploration, systematically reviewed the research progress of nuclear drugs targeting PSMA for prostate cancer: first, the molecular design and clinical advantages of F-18 labeled PSMA-targeted PET imaging agents; second, the substantial improvement of tumor targeting of Lu-177 labeled therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals through rational optimization of molecular structures,...

2026-08-07

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Hosts Academic Seminar on PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals

On August 3, the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences held an academic seminar, inviting Professor Lin Guoxian from the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, to deliver a lecture titled "Development of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer." The seminar was held in a hybrid format, with some researchers and graduate students from the institute attending in person. Professor Lin Guoxian has long been engaged in the development of targeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy, having led or contributed to the publication of over 135 peer-reviewed journal articles, filed more than 30 patent applications related to radiopharmaceuticals, and completed clinical translation of 7 self-developed radiopharmaceuticals applied in...

2026-08-07

First Clinical Treatment Successfully Completed with China's Domestic Superconducting Cyclotron Proton Therapy System by CYC-Ion

On the morning of August 7, the domestically developed superconducting cyclotron proton therapy system, independently developed by Hefei CYC-Ion Medical Technology Equipment Co., Ltd., completed the first clinical trial treatment of a subject at Hefei Ion Medical Center. This marks a significant breakthrough as the first domestically produced superconducting cyclotron proton radiation therapy system in China. The subject in this case was a lung cancer patient. The superconducting proton therapy system used in the trial is equipped with the SC240 superconducting cyclotron independently developed by CYC-Ion, featuring an ultra-large irradiation field and 360° full-angle beam delivery capability. The entire treatment process relied on multi-modal fusion 4D image-guided precise positioning, enabling dynamic adaptation and precise treatment. The equipment operated smoothly with low noise, and the treatment control software ran...

2026-08-07

Indonesia's BRIN Showcases Nuclear Technology Research Progress, Covering Radiopharmaceuticals and Food Irradiation Applications

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia recently showcased its nuclear technology research achievements at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. BRIN Head Arief Satria stated that the relevant technologies fall within the scope of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, with applications extending beyond energy to also cover food and health sectors. In the health sector, BRIN is developing radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine. These drugs contain radioactive substances and can be used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Arief stated that radiopharmaceutical research and development is of great significance for cancer detection and therapy. In the food sector, BRIN applies nuclear technology to food preservation, with a focus on irradiation treatment of export fruits. Arief explained that some importing countries re...

2026-08-07

First Validation of Novel PRI Technology: Existing PET Tracers Can Image Tissue Microenvironment

August 6, 2026 - A joint research team from the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo and the University of York in the UK announced that they have established a novel geometric imaging principle utilizing positron three-photon decay and successfully validated Positronium Ratio Imaging (PRI) technology for the first time. This method can be used in conjunction with existing clinical PET tracers and is expected to provide a new means of observing tissue microenvironments in nuclear medicine imaging. Conceptual diagram of next-generation nuclear medicine imaging utilizing positron-3-photon decay. Current clinical PET scans primarily rely on the positron two-photon annihilation process to visualize the distribution and accumulation of tracers in the body, but they provide limited information on microenvironmental factors such as tissue hypoxia that are associated with disease malignancy...

2026-08-07

Construction of Proton Therapy Center in Ulsan, South Korea Faces Hurdles: Government Funding Allocation Adjustments Impact Project Progress

The proton therapy center construction project in Ulsan, South Korea, has recently encountered obstacles to progress. The project was once regarded as a key component in improving the regional cancer treatment system in southeastern South Korea, but due to shifts in government medical financial support priorities, the difficulty of securing large-scale national funding independently has increased significantly. According to information from Ulsan City on August 6, Ulsan City completed the feasibility study and basic planning services for the proton therapy center construction in March of last year and began seeking national funding. However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded that it would be difficult to provide large-scale project funding to Ulsan City alone. Previously, Ulsan City had planned to establish a proton therapy center to build a system enabling cancer patients to undergo surgery...

2026-08-07

Oklo's Groves Isotope Test Reactor Achieves First Criticality

Oklo, a U.S. advanced nuclear technology company, announced on August 6 that its Groves Isotope Test Reactor has achieved a controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at low power, reaching first criticality. This milestone comes less than a year after the project broke ground. Groves Isotope Test Reactor facility (Image: Groves) The Groves low-power test reactor, located in Lockhart, Texas, is the first reactor to achieve criticality on private land under the U.S. Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program. According to Oklo, the facility was built from undeveloped land, completing civil excavation, engineering construction, component fabrication or procurement, fuel configuration, and...

2026-08-07

South Korea Advances First Domestic Commercial Production of Lu-177 Using Wolsong Heavy Water Reactors

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) plans to use the heavy water reactors at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant to produce, for the first time domestically, the radioisotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) for cancer treatment. Currently, South Korea relies entirely on imports for this material, which imposes cost pressures and supply instability on local radiopharmaceutical companies such as Cellbion and FutureChem. Industry experts generally believe that domestic production will help build a diversified supply chain and shorten transportation times. The primary goal of this plan is to achieve commercial production of Lu-177, with pilot production expected in 2028 and full-scale production commencing in 2031. Subsequently, KHNP will expand production to include cobalt...

2026-08-06

Korea's Ajou University Hospital Launches Halcyon 5.0 Integrated Precision Radiotherapy Solution

Ajou University Hospital announced on August 6 that it has established a Halcyon 5.0 integrated precision radiotherapy solution and has begun full-scale use for patient treatment. The system integrates high-definition high-speed image acquisition, six-degree-of-freedom patient positioning correction, and markerless real-time motion management into a single treatment workflow to enhance the accuracy and safety of image-guided radiotherapy. This implementation is based on Halcyon system software version 5.0, integrating the high-resolution cone-beam CT imaging system HyperSight, the six-degree-of-freedom patient positioning couch Dynamic Couch, and the surface-guided radiotherapy system IDENTIFY. Ajou University Hospital stated that it is the first hospital in Korea to establish the integrated Halcyon system and the second in Asia to use the system for actual patient treatment.

2026-08-06

Bahamas to Strengthen Cancer Control System Based on imPACT Review Findings

August 5, 2026, an international review led by the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that the Bahamas has room for further improvement in strengthening cancer treatment services. The review provided a roadmap for the country to improve coordination of cancer services, reduce diagnostic and treatment waiting times, and enhance patient outcomes. Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas (Image: Pelow Media/Adobe Stock) The imPACT review was conducted jointly by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, at the request of the Bahamas Ministry of Health and Wellness, focusing on assessing the country's cancer control capacities and needs. From June 9 to 11, the expert team visited...

2026-08-06

Japanese PET Study Suggests Late-Onset Psychosis May Be Linked to Neurodegenerative Pathology

A nuclear medicine imaging study conducted by a Japanese research team has shown that many adults who experience psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions for the first time after age 40 have abnormal protein deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The study included 37 patients with late-onset psychosis and 47 age-matched healthy controls. The researchers used the amyloid PET tracer ^11C-PiB and the tau protein PET tracer ^18F-florzolotau to assess the accumulation of β-amyloid and tau proteins in the participants' brains. The results showed that among patients with late-onset psychosis, β-amyloid positivity...

2026-08-06

Thor Medical Commences Commercial Supply with First Delivery of High-Purity Thorium-228 from AlphaOne

Thor Medical ASA announced on August 5 that it has completed the first customer delivery of high-purity thorium-228 (Th-228) from its AlphaOne production facility at the Herøya industrial park. This marks the first customer shipment following the facility's production start announced last week, and signifies AlphaOne's entry into the commercial supply phase. Thor Medical CEO Jasper Kurth stated that commercial production represents the beginning of the company's industrial-scale manufacturing, and the first customer delivery demonstrates the company's transition from capacity building to serving customers through its first industrial-scale facility. The company stated that as production capacity gradually ramps up, it will continue to meet the growing demand for high-purity isotopes in the targeted alpha therapy field...

2026-08-06

Quantum X Labs Advances Quantum Computing for Nuclear Particle Transport Predictive Simulations

Quantum X Labs Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary, Nuclear Quantum, has proposed a new solution to a bottleneck in computational simulations for the nuclear industry, attempting to introduce quantum computing into nuclear particle transport prediction to support compute-intensive scenarios such as nuclear medicine system design. According to reports, traditional particle transport simulations play an important role in nuclear medicine system design, but they often require substantial computational resources and involve long runtimes, impacting R&D and optimization efficiency. The technology proposed by Nuclear Quantum aims to transform physical transport models into quantum circuits, enabling particle propagation and random walk dynamics to be directly represented and simulated within a quantum computing framework...

2026-08-06

South Korea advances plan to produce medical isotopes using nuclear power plants, with lutetium-177 targeted for commercial production in 2031

South Korea is advancing plans to industrialize the production of radioisotopes using nuclear power plants, with the medical isotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) designated as the first commercial target product. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power stated that it plans to prioritize the commercialization of Lu-177 production, with the potential to later expand the product range to include isotopes such as cobalt-60, tritium-3, and helium-3. Lu-177 is a therapeutic radioisotope widely used in the global radiopharmaceutical market, applicable in radiopharmaceuticals for diseases such as prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. Previously, South Korea relied entirely on imports for its Lu-177 supply. Due to its half-life of approximately 6.6 days, the entire process from production and transportation to drug preparation and patient administration...

2026-08-06

Han Bing, Chairman of Hefei Municipal CPPCC, Leads Delegation to CYC Ion for Research and Guidance

On the afternoon of August 4, Han Bing, Chairman of Hefei Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), led a delegation to CYC Ion for research and guidance, and held a symposium. Yong Fengshan, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress; Su Xiang, Secretary-General of the Municipal CPPCC; Jiang Xin, Chairman of the Municipal Industrial Investment Group; Zhang Xiaofeng, Director of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Municipal CPPCC; and Guo Mei, Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, participated in the event. Song Yuntao, Deputy Director of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Liu Lu, Chairman of CYC Ion; Chen Yonghua, General Manager; and Deputy General Managers Ding Kaizhong, Li Jun, and Guang Ruohuai accompanied the delegation. The delegation was briefed in detail on CYC Ion's industrial layout and business operations, with discussions focusing on key technological breakthroughs in nuclear medicine and high-end equipment, technology transfer and commercialization, and industrial development.

2026-08-06

CNNC & CIR Co-sponsors Regional Nuclear Medicine Department Development Training Program (Ganzhou Session) and Ganzhou Cancer Hospital High-Quality Nuclear Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Project Launched Simultaneously

Recently, the Regional Nuclear Medicine Department Development Training Program (Ganzhou Session) and the Ganzhou Cancer Hospital High-Quality Nuclear Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Project were launched simultaneously at Ganzhou Cancer Hospital. An expert panel from the Nuclear Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, along with representatives from CNNC & CIR and Atom High-Tech, visited the hospital for research and exchange. More than 200 medical staff from medical institutions at various levels across Jiangxi Province attended the event. The launch ceremony was moderated by Yang Chuansheng, Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Ganzhou Cancer Hospital. Fu Wei, Deputy Director of the Ganzhou Municipal Health Commission; Wang Jing, Chair of the Nuclear Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; and Huang Xingwei, Party Secretary of Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, attended and delivered speeches. Wang Jing stated that nuclear medicine plays a vital supporting role in the precise diagnosis and treatment of major diseases such as cancer, and that promoting the standardized development of regional nuclear medicine at the city and county levels is conducive to channeling high-quality medical resources to the grassroots and enhancing primary healthcare service capabilities.

2026-08-06

Samsung and Accuray Plan Collaboration on Image-Guided Precision Radiation Therapy

Samsung Electronics' medical device business and Samsung Medison continue to shift their business focus from medical diagnostics to treatment. On August 5, Samsung HME America and U.S. radiosurgery company Accuray announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to explore collaboration on volume imaging-based precision radiation therapy solutions. Under the letter of intent, the two parties plan to study the integration of Samsung's mobile CT scanner BodyTom with Accuray's robotic radiosurgery platform CyberKnife. This collaboration direction aims to connect high-resolution 3D imaging capabilities with image-guided robotic radiosurgery technology, enabling medical staff to more accurately identify...

2026-08-05