International Isotopes gets go-ahead

Radioisotope manufacturer International Isotopes of Denton, TX, reported last month that the Texas Department of Public Health's Bureau of Radiation Control has approved a license amendment for the production of small quantities of thallium-201, a radioisotope used for the diagnosis of heart disease and cardiac function. The isotope will be manufactured using International Isotopes' linear accelerator, as well as its cyclotron.

The approval allows the firm to begin preliminary shipments of thallium and other radiochemicals to pharmaceutical companies, a crucial step in establishing itself as a reliable provider of raw pharmaceutical material, according to Carl Seidel, president and CEO. International Isotopes will begin shipping thallium in early March, but declined to name particular customers.