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Investment in early-stage research helps build NTP’S pipeline of new technologies

Research and development of new radiopharmaceutical products in SA resides with NTP Radioisotopes’ parent company, the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa). Necsa is responsible for bringing new products and technologies to market, says NTP head of legal and technology management Omphile Modibela. However, NTP is launching a new function inhouse to focus on innovation and how to launch new products into the market.

“In order to achieve our growth strategy it’s important that we have a better understanding of what it takes to successfully commercialise nuclear technologies,” she says. “The peculiarity of commercialising nuclear technology is that you can invest in 10 ideas but only one may succeed.

“We have realised that we need to invest in early stage research in order to build our pipeline of new technologies.” Ongoing research into radiopharmaceuticals is essential to NTP’S continued position as SA’S primary supplier of radiopharmaceutical products for nuclear medicine. NTP has entered into partnerships with a number of leading academic hospitals including Charlotte Maxeke and Tygerberg Hospitals and research institutions such as the University of Stellenbosch and the SA National Research Foundation’s ithemba Labs. NTP also provides subsidised radiopharmaceuticals for use in clinical trials of isotope-based diagnostic and treatment procedures.