Vital Diagnostic Isotope
Molybdenum-99
New technology for delivering a reliable, reactor-free isotope supply at scale to power
patient diagnostics.
THE CHALLENGE
Massive domestic demand. Little domestic production.
Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is the world’s most-used diagnostic isotope. It supports more than 40 million patient scans each year to detect heart disease and cancer. Nearly half of those scans take place in North America — even though almost all Mo-99 is produced abroad from aging reactors.
SHINE is working to change that. Our fusion-based process will enable Mo-99 production at commercial scale, creating a more dependable, sustainable source for medical providers everywhere.
A FOUNDATION FOR DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
What is Mo-99?
Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is the parent isotope of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), a short-lived isotope used in roughly 85% of all nuclear-medicine diagnostic scans. Tc-99m supports about 56,000 patient studies daily in the U.S., helping physicians detect heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions.
Because Mo-99 has a 66-hour half-life, it must be processed quickly in technetium generators at radiopharmacies and hospitals. It can’t be stockpiled, so timing and logistics are critical to patient care.
FUSION-BASED MEDICAL ISOTOPES
Redefining Mo-99 production
Our system combines steady-state, fusion-generated neutrons with a closed-loop liquid uranium target to create Mo-99 efficiently and cleanly. Because the uranium material is recycled, this fusion-based approach achieves medical-grade isotope yields with less waste and lower material cost than reactor-based methods.
The resulting Mo-99 is chemically identical to current products, so it integrates seamlessly into existing generator and radiopharmacy networks. That compatibility ensures neither producers nor providers need to change equipment.
A MORE DEPENDABLE GLOBAL SUPPLY
Building stability into the Mo-99 supply chain
Decades-old reactors still supply nearly all of the world’s Mo-99. Our production model will add capacity where it’s needed most and strengthen the entire supply network.
As new fusion-based facilities come online, they’ll supplement existing reactor production — making the global system cleaner, more reliable, and more sustainable.
U.S.-based strength
We’re building Chrysalis in Janesville, Wisconsin. Once complete, it’s designed to produce up to half the world’s supply of Mo-99 at full operation, closer to the North American patients who depend on it.
Global reach
A planned companion facility in Veendam, the Netherlands is designed to replicate Chrysalis in layout and process, adding regional capacity for Europe and beyond while reducing strain on existing reactors.
A smarter system
Together, these facilities will form a hybrid global supply — maintaining reliability today
while introducing cleaner, scalable fusion production for tomorrow.
What we've achieved
We’re proud to have accomplished key milestones as we advance our world-class isotope production capabilities.
(46 trillion n/s)
What Sets Our Process Apart
Fusion advantage in medical isotope production
Every stage of the Mo-99 production process has been engineered for safety, efficiency, and scalability — delivering advantages that matter to patients and providers alike.
Cleaner by design
Fusion-based production avoids the need for a nuclear reactor and doesn’t use highly enriched uranium. Chrysalis will recycle its low-enriched uranium solution through repeated production runs, cutting waste and strengthening safeguards, and turning legacy materials into medicine for millions of patients.
Efficiency Through Recycling
The reusable liquid target will operate in a closed loop, allowing multiple production cycles without replacing solid fuel targets. This design drastically reduces uranium use, simplifies isotope separation, and keeps output steady.
Built for Scale and Reliability
Modular fusion units allow production to begin as additional units are installed over time. With facilities planned for North America and Europe, our system is designed to create a resilient production network to meet global diagnostic needs for decades to come.
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More certainty in supply means a healthier world
We’re demonstrating how clean fusion technology can move from proven science to practical application. In doing so, we’re strengthening healthcare, cutting waste, and building a dependable new source of medical isotopes.