7^th International
Conference on Isotopes

31 Aug 2011
Philips is to launch a plant in St. Petersbug for the production of medical diagnostic equipment based on nuclear technologies.

Kommersant newspaper learned that Philips has plans for launching a plant for the production of medical diagnostic equipment based on nuclear technologies. The production plant will be based on the premises of the existing Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Research Studies Institute of electrophysical equipment named after D.M Efremov”, which is part of RosAtom corporation. The parties to the agreement did not disclose project's investment sources. According to market experts the announced volume of production (300 Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography units designed for the diagnostics of oncological diseases) is equal to the volume of the entire Russian market. The yearly volume of the new production may reach tens of millions dollars.

According to the representative of RosAtom, Vladimir Bochkov, the manufacturing of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) units, and SPEC units combined with Computer Tomography devices (SPECT-CT), as well as Positron Emission Tomography units combined with Computer Tomography devices (PET-CT) will be set up at one of RosAtom's production sites most likely in St. Petersburg. According to Kommersant, the production is to be launched at the premises of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Research Studies Institute of electrophysical equipment named after D.M Efremov” (Metallostroi colony is a property of RosAtom).  

A memorandum of cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine was signed by the State Corporation RosAtom and Royal Philips Electronics in June. The parties reached an agreement at the time on the production of precision medical diagnostic equipment based on nuclear technologies (SPECT, SPECT-CT, PET-CT).  

RosAtom representatives say that, according to the agreement, for the first time ever an international producer transfers to its Russian partner the right to manufacture a certain model of SPECT-CT on exclusive conditions, while limiting its production elsewhere in the world. The equipment will be sold under a joint brand in Russia and CIS countries.

The companies also intend to conduct joint scientific research (Research and Advanced Development), which will include clinical studies and component base development. A first Russian producer and supplier of complex PET solutions for the Russian and global markets will be established. Arjan de Jongste, the director of Philips in Russia, Mongolia and CIS countries, said that the lead time of the first base of the project will talke five years. According to Jongste, in Russia there is high demand in the field of nuclear medicine services. “At present there are only seven PET centers (compare to 2'000 in USA) and all of them are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It means that only 1,5% of the Russian citizens have access to PET diagnostic services. According to an independent expertise, more than 140 PET centers will be built in Russia in the nearest future. There is a widespread demand in Russia for the diagnostic procedures that allow to diagnose oncologic and cardiovascular diseases, the occurrence of which is very high in Russia”, said Arjan de Jongste.            

It should be noted that this issue will be discussed at one of the sessions of the business section “Best examples of international cooperation in the field of creation of new enterprises and manufacturing technologies of isotope production and medical equipment”, which will take place within the framework of the Seventh International Conference on Isotopes on the second day of the Conference, on September 5, 2011.