en.Wedoany.com Reported - With support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tunisia has achieved local production of the radiopharmaceutical 18F-PSMA, used for precise detection, staging, characterization, and treatment of prostate cancer.
18F-PSMA binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is highly expressed on the surface of most prostate cancer cells. The drug provides information on the extent of the disease and is used to select the best treatment options for patients, including radionuclide therapy. Earlier this year, the radiopharmaceutical received formal approval from Tunisia's drug regulatory authority, with clinical applications set to begin in March 2026, expected to benefit hundreds of patients nationwide.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in Tunisia. Nuclear techniques, such as PET/CT based on radiopharmaceuticals for early detection, help improve survival rates. The radiopharmaceutical is produced in collaboration between the Radioactive Isotope Company (SISORA) and the National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), with support from an IAEA technical cooperation project aimed at strengthening national capacities in the production value chain.
Mouldi Saidi, Director of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology at CNSTN, noted that local production of 18F-PSMA eliminates dependence on imported radiopharmaceuticals, which were previously subject to supply and logistical constraints. This move will improve continuous patient care and enable Tunisian hospitals to offer world-class diagnostic services.
Under a four-year national project, the IAEA provided technical guidance for establishing radiopharmaceutical production protocols and quality assurance systems, and supported the training of over 20 professionals, including physicists, radiochemists, radiopharmacists, and nuclear medicine physicians. The project also facilitated the establishment of a national radiopharmacy network connecting research institutions, nuclear medicine departments, academia, and drug regulatory bodies, including the Directorate of Pharmacy and Medicines, to ensure clinical needs are met.
Tzanka Kokalova-Wheldon, Director of the IAEA Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, stated that this achievement is the result of strong partnerships and sustained capacity building, and also lays the foundation for future development of other radiopharmaceuticals, helping Tunisia reduce import dependence and ensure continued access to advanced cancer diagnostic tools.
In December 2025, Tunisia launched its first certificate course in radiopharmaceutical sciences, supported by the IAEA project in collaboration with the French National Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN). The six-month course, taught in French, covers the full spectrum of radiopharmaceutical sciences: physics and nuclear instrumentation; dosimetry, radiobiology, radiopathology, and radioprotection; production and quality control methods; industrial and clinical radiopharmacy; and research and innovation in the field. The inaugural course enrolled 23 participants from Tunisia, along with 10 from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo, Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. Gashaw Wolde, Acting Director of the IAEA Division for Africa, Department of Technical Cooperation, stated that Tunisia's achievement demonstrates how international cooperation and local innovation can help transform healthcare systems, and the IAEA will continue to support member states in adopting advanced nuclear technologies to improve health outcomes.
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