Science and Technology Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeysena inaugurated Sri Lanka’s first cyclotron-based radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility to produce Fluoro Deoxy Glucose (FDG), a vital drug used in cancer detection on Monday (16).
The facility, located within the Board of Investment (BoI) processing zone in Kimbulapitiya, Katunayake, represents a total investment of US$ 6,875,000. Access Medical Tracers (Pvt) Ltd implemented the project and holds a 60 percent stake. Access International (Pvt) Ltd holds 20 percent, while the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board and the Health Ministry hold 10 percent each. The project commenced operations in November 2024.
This marks the first time such a drug is manufactured within a facility built in Sri Lanka. FDG is a radioactive drug primarily used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for the early detection and diagnosis of cancer.
The Minister stated that projections indicate a 23 percent annual increase in cancer patients by 2030. He emphasised that the country must be prepared to face this alarming situation.
He highlighted that Sri Lanka previously relied on importing FDG from India for PET scans. He explained that the process from production to application is highly complex.
Minister Abeysena noted that by the time the imported drug reached patients, nearly 97 percent of its initial radioactivity was lost due to radioactive decay. This significant loss created challenges regarding the accuracy of PET scan diagnosis.
Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe expressed his satisfaction with the local production of FDG. He noted that the country previously faced difficulties due to inconsistent supplies of the drug.
Dr. Jasinghe stated that efficient management and planning within the Health Ministry ensured a continuous supply despite these challenges. He added that the Government spends a significant amount annually to maintain free healthcare and emphasised that public-private partnerships of this nature are extremely important for the country.
The local production of FDG is expected to save a significant amount of foreign exchange. It will also allow PET scans to be conducted without delays, leading to faster cancer diagnoses.
The project operates as a public-private partnership involving Access Medical Tracers, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board under the Science and Technology Ministry, and the Health Ministry.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board Chairperson Prof. Thushara Ratnayake, and Managing Director of Access International PLC and Access Engineering PLC Shamal Perera.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert Prof. M. R. A. Pillai, Health and Mass Media Ministry’s Additional Secretaries Dr. Kumara Wickramasinghe and Sunil Galagama, and North Western Provincial Health Services Director Dr. Sampath Indika were also present. Other attendees included Government officials from the Health, Energy, and Science and Technology Ministries, alongside representatives from Access Engineering PLC and Access Medical Tracers (Pvt) Ltd.