For more than 50 years, Cobalt-60 has been used as a source of gamma radiation for a wide variety of applications, and has grown to become one of the most prevalent modalities for sterilization of single use medical devices.
Medical device manufacturers typically do not have good visibility of the Cobalt-60 supply chain and resulting supply/demand dynamics, given that many of them are one step removed through the use of contract sterilization providers. This can lead to lack of clarity around current and future gamma capacity, important for making sterilization modality selection decisions.
This presentation will provide insight into the workings of the global Cobalt-60 supply chain, and explain the impact of recent events on both supply and demand. The presentation will also touch on Nordion’s long-term strategies for maintaining and growing Cobalt supply, and highlight some key supply initiatives.
