Participants in Tunisia's first course for the Certificate of Complementary Education in Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. (Photo: N. Ayachi, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir)
With IAEA support, Tunisia has reached a major milestone in nuclear medicine with the national production of 18F-PSMA, a key drug for the accurate detection, staging and characterization of prostate cancer and its treatment.
The radiopharmaceutical received formal approval from Tunisia's medicine regulatory authority earlier this year. Following this milestone, clinical application started in March 2026 and is expected to benefit hundreds of patients across the country.
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in Tunisia. Advanced imaging tools are essential for its accurate diagnosis and treatment, and survival rates are greatly improved by early detection using nuclear techniques such as radiopharmaceutical-based PET/CT.
18F-PSMA binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein found in high amounts on the surface of most prostate cancer cells. The drug provides information on the extent of the disease and is used to screen patients for optimal treatment, including radionuclide therapy.
The radiopharmaceutical was produced through collaboration between two national agencies, the Radioactive Isotope Company (SISORA) and the National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), supported by an IAEA technical cooperation project to strengthen national capacities across the entire production value chain.
"This is a major step forward for nuclear medicine in Tunisia, as the local production of 18F-PSMA eliminates dependence on imported radiopharmaceuticals, which were previously limited by availability and logistics," said Mouldi Saidi, Director of Biotechnology and Nuclear Techniques at CNSTN. "This will improve continuity of care for patients, enabling Tunisian hospitals to provide world-class diagnostic services."
Strengthening National Capacities
Under a four-year national project, the IAEA provided technical guidance for the establishment of robust radiopharmaceutical production protocols and quality assurance systems. The IAEA also supported the training of more than 20 professionals including physicists, radiochemists, radiopharmacists and nuclear medicine physicians.
The project also fostered the creation of a national radiopharmacy network that links research institutes, nuclear medicine departments, academia and regulatory authorities, including the Directorate of Pharmacy and Medicines, to ensure clinical demands are met.
"This success story is the result of strong partnerships and sustained capacity building," said Tzanka Kokalova-Wheldon, Director of the IAEA Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences. "It also lays the foundation for the future development of other radiopharmaceuticals, helping Tunisia to reduce dependence on imports and ensuring sustainable access to advanced cancer diagnostic tools."
Continuity through Professional Certification
In December 2025, Tunisia launched its first Certificate of Complementary Education in Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, another effort supported by the IAEA project in collaboration with the French National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN).
The six-month course, offered in French, covers the full spectrum of radiopharmaceutical sciences: physics and nuclear instrumentation; dosimetry, radiobiology, radiopathology and radioprotection; methodologies for production and quality control; industrial and clinical radiopharmacy; and research and innovations in the field.
The first course brought together 23 participants from Tunisia plus 10 from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, strengthening national and regional capacities in this strategic field.
"Tunisia's accomplishment demonstrates how international cooperation and local innovation can help to transform healthcare systems," said Gashaw Wolde, acting Director of the Africa Division in the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation. "The IAEA remains committed to supporting Member States in adopting advanced nuclear technologies for better health outcomes."
