Seoul
South Korea is setting its sights on becoming a leader in the global radiopharmaceuticals market, with plans to fully self-supply radioactive isotopes by 2030 and start exporting radiopharmaceuticals by 2035, according to the Ministry of Science on Thursday.
The government has unveiled a strategy aimed at boosting domestic production capabilities and advancing the infrastructure necessary for producing medical isotopes, which are key to developing radiopharmaceuticals used in cancer treatment. This effort is part of a broader initiative to establish South Korea as a first mover in the growing radiation biology market.
Key components of the plan include developing technologies for critical isotopes such as Lutetium-177 and Molybdenum-99, improving proton accelerators, and enhancing research reactors. Additionally, the government aims to support at least three new drug candidates for medical applications and establish industry clusters, including a new drug development centre in Seoul and an isotope cluster in the southeastern region.
The initiative is seen as an effort to secure South Korea’s position in the rapidly expanding global market, which is expected to play a pivotal role in cancer treatment. In parallel, the country is also working on strengthening its medical device sector, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy hosting a networking event to link companies with potential investors for the commercialization of innovative technologies.
