Scandium 47

I didn’t see this one coming…

Scandium 47 is a radioactive isotope of scandium that has potential use in medicine as both a cancer therapy and medical imagining:

• A new radioactive variation of the element scandium, scandium 47, has been produced in the OPAL reactor for the potential diagnosis and treatment of disease
• Scandium 47 has the potential to be used as both a therapeutic drug and diagnostic agent, a true theranostic
• ANSTO has specialist expertise and the infrastructure to produce radioactive substances that can be used for diagnosis and treatment

https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/potential-true-theranostic-agent-for-cancer-produced

(This ANSTO article is dated 20 March 2020.)

Fast forward to 2025:

‘The global Scandium-47 market is poised for significant expansion, projected to reach a substantial valuation with a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.5% during the forecast period of 2025-2033. This rapid growth is primarily fueled by the escalating demand for advanced radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine, particularly for therapeutic applications like targeted cancer treatment. Scandium-47's unique properties, including its relatively short half-life and suitable decay characteristics for therapeutic use, position it as a critical isotope in the development of novel radiotherapies. The market's value, measured in millions of USD, is expected to climb steadily as research and development in this niche but vital sector gains momentum.’

https://www.datainsightsmarket.com/reports/scandium-47-1843441#summary