Technetium kit shortage until mid-October

Jubilant DraxImage, a distributor of the MAA lyophilized Technetium-99m kit, announced that as of Sept. 6, a disruption in the company’s supply chain would effectively render the technetium-synthesis kit out-of-stock until an unspecified date in October, according to a letter to customers.

The kit is comprised of reaction vials of sterile and non-radioactive ingredients used for on-site production of technetium (Tc-99m albumin aggregated injection) for diagnostic molecular imaging. Jubilant is currently the only supplier of this type of kit in North America.

“The manufacturing of our MAA kits continues to be the highest priority in our production schedule and we are taking every possible step to remedy the situation as soon as possible,” wrote Jubilant product manager William Lepeak in the letter.

The hold up is said to be due to delays in a production overhaul that began after the company switched suppliers of an active ingredient last year. The FDA and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have been informed of the hiccup in distribution.

“SNMMI is very concerned with the recently announced shortage of DraxImage MAA kits," noted SNMMI president Gary Dillehay, MD, via email. "These non-radioactive kits, mixed with Tc-99m pertechnetate (a radioactive compound), are used to perform radionuclide lung scans to assess the presence of a pulmonary embolism (blood clot) in the lungs. This procedure is performed approximately 640,000 times a year in the United States. There is currently no alternative source of these kits.  We are currently exploring options for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals during this supply disruption and will keep the community informed of any developments that will help meet patient needs.”