Visakhapatnam, February 1, 2025: The AP MedTech Zone in Visakhapatnam is set to supply Fluorine-18 (18F) radioisotopes used in cancer diagnosis. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board recently approved isotope production for commercial use through a cyclotron machine. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the facility in July 2024. Zone officials plan to supply cancer hospitals in Andhra Pradesh with these isotopes at affordable prices.
Currently, hospitals in the state import 18F-FDG (Fluoro-Deoxy Glucose) for PET-CT scans from cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai, incurring high transportation costs. To address this, MedTech Zone CEO Dr. Jitendra Sharma partnered with Delhi-based SDS Life Sciences to begin local production. The facility processes 18F with glucose to form FDG, purifies it, and fills it into vials after stringent quality checks. Sample batches have already been supplied to local hospitals, with six staff members overseeing production and radiation monitoring.
