NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes has signed a $4.6 million contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration that will help the Wisconsin company develop architectural and site plans for its Beloit medical isotope production plant.
NorthStar, now based in Madison, is building the Beloit plant to help address domestic shortages of molybdenum-99, a critical medical isotope used in medical imaging. The shortages have limited the production of medical imaging tests that are used in cancer detection and treatment.
The company, founded in 2006, would process the material in the Beloit plant, where its headquarters eventually will be located. NorthStar has raised $6 million from Hendricks Holdings Co., Inc. in Beloit, and its workforce there could reach 150 employees.
