Recent Breakthrough in <sup>68</sup>Ga-Radiopharmaceuticals Cold Kits for Convenient PET Radiopharmacy
Drishty Satpati
Abstract
68 Ga-PET has emerged as an important diagnostic tool for precise detection and monitoring of oncological situations. Availability, cost, and radiosynthesis procedure are determining steps for success of a radioisotope/radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine. Availability of 68 Ga from a 68 Ge/ 68 Ga generator containing a long-lived parent radioisotope ( 68 Ge: t 1/2 = 271 days) and an inexpensive, simplified production of 68 Ga-radiopharmaceuticals through kit methodology has allowed smooth accommodation of 68 Ga-PET in clinics. The uncomplicated formulation of 68 Ga-radiopharmaceuticals from a lyophilized, cold kit is an impending breakthrough in clinical PET. The huge success of 68 Ga in neuroendocrine tumor and prostate cancer imaging along with the regulatory approval of respective cold kits has opened a pathway for development of kits for other evolving radiotracers. There is a definite scope for increased participation of commercial manufacturers and distributors of cold kits to spread the potential of 68 Ga worldwide across all the geographical locations and satellite centers.