A -- TECHNETIUM-99M SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY

IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY OFFERS LICENSE TO SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY TO ENABLE RECOVERY OF MEDICAL ISOTOPE TECHNETIUM-99M PRODUCED BY AN ELECTRON ACCELERATOR. Announcement: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting a written indication of interest from industrial partners capable of developing, implementing, and commercializing BEA proprietary separation technologies for Tc-99m from low concentration Mo-99 created by the (??,n) reaction through bombardment of Mo-100 by photons from an electron accelerator, and who are interested in entering into a license agreement, research and development agreement, or both, for the purpose of developing and commercializing this technology. License terms would include an up-front licensing payment, minimum annual royalties and a running royalty based on a percentage of sales. A research and development agreement would be under a standard CRADA arrangement with an option for licensing subject inventions. Note: THIS IS NOT A COMMITMENT BY BEA TO ENTER INTO EITHER A LICENSE AGREEMENT OR A COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THESE TECHNOLOGIES WITH ANY COMPANY. A description of the technology follows: Two methods of thermal separation of Tc-99m from accelerator generated Mo-99 were designed and tested for continuous production of the Tc-99m medical isotope. They are described in U.S. Patents 5,802,438 and 5,802,439. Briefly, the thermal separation facilitates the separation of Tc-99m from low specific concentration Mo-99 oxide. Efficiencies for separation are very high compared to current separation technologies. The first method involves melting the Molybdenum to a thin pool and then evaporating the Technetium to a collection point. The second involves the creation of micro-crystals of molybdenum and sublimination from off the crystal faces, and the subsequent recycling of the crystals. These patents teach two economical, recyclable, and reliable methods for producing the leading medical isotope in diagnostic imaging. The methods have advantages over the current supply method that costs may be lower, radioactive waste production is minimal, and new methods do not use uranium, either HEU or LEU. INL studies suggest that a system of about 20 regional production facilities, based on this technology, located throughout the U.S. could supply the total U.S. demand for Technetium-99m at a per dose cost of less than half the current market price per dose. More details will be available to qualified companies under a nondisclosure agreement. The successful company will be expected to: a) be capable of funding the development of the thermal separation technologies, b) have expertise in the development of medical isotope production and use, and c) have the ability to commercialize the product of these developmental activities.Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing BEA??s thermal separation technologies should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1) company name and address; 2) the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address for a point of contact; 3) a brief description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology; and 4) a brief description of how the company might commercialize this technology. The statement of interest should be made by US mail or e-mail and should be received within 30 days of publication of this opportunity at the following address: John R. Snyder, Ph.D., Advisory Account Executive, Technology Transfer & Commercialization, BEA, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805. E-mail is contact@example.gov.