Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University became the first in Russia to start producing and supplying to the Research Institute of Cardiology a radiopharmaceutical based on thallium-199 isotope, which allows the quick and accurate diagnosis of heart pathologies, in particular, ischemic disease. In contrast to the thallium-201 drug usually used for these purposes, it is easier for the patient to tolerate, has less radiation exposure and is quickly eliminated from the body, the press service of the Tomsk university told reporters.

“Both in Russia and around the world, a drug with thallium-201 isotope is traditionally used for diagnostics in cardiology. Tomsk Polytechnic University has developed its own technology for obtaining thallium-199. Its half-life amounts to 7.4 hours, which is almost ten times less than thallium-201. This means that it is "softer", giving a smaller dose to the patient and is eliminated from the body more quickly," the head of the production department of radiopharmaceuticals at the TPU "Research Nuclear Reactor" Evgeny Nesterov was quoted as saying.

It is specified that in Russia only Tomsk Polytechnic University has a license for this drug's production. It is currently supplied to the Research Institute of Cardiology of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The isotope is obtained by specialists of the Laboratory of Radioactive Substances and Technologies of Tomsk Polytechnic University at the cyclotron — a cyclic accelerator of heavy charged particles.

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Source: TASS