AtkinsRealis welcomes Novartis Canada as new Canadians for CANDU ambassador

Published: 2025-04-16 08:08:26 ET ATRL.TO

AtkinsRealis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear company with offices around the world, welcomes Novartis Canada as a new ambassador in support of the Canadians for CANDU campaign.

Novartis Canada is leading the way in bringing an innovative targeted cancer treatment called radioligand therapy to Canadian patients. This approach uses radioactive particles attached to molecules that seek out and destroy cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. For certain advanced cancers, such as prostate and neuroendocrine cancers, this therapy can offer significant benefits. The radioactive materials essential for these treatments are often sourced from the nuclear industry, underscoring the vital link between pharmaceutical innovation in cancer care and the supply of medical isotopes.

The Canadians for CANDU campaign was launched on February 28, 2024, and is proudly supported by organizations including organized labour, supply chain, nuclear medicine, education, and Indigenous Canadian organizations. Spearheaded by Co-Chairs the Right Honourable Jean Chretien and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris, the campaign promotes the deployment of CANDU nuclear technology at home and abroad in support of Canadian and global efforts to reach net-zero emissions.

'I would like to thank Novartis Canada for their leadership in Canada's world class nuclear sector, and their support for CANDU technology,' said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRealis. 'This growing movement can position Canada as a global clean energy champion, while promoting a domestic nuclear industry that Canadians can be proud of.'

'At Novartis Canada, our leadership in radioligand therapy is driven by a commitment to improving the lives of patients,' said Celine Landie, Vice-President Radioligand Therapy, Novartis Canada. 'The reliable supply of medical isotopes, many of which are produced through CANDU technology, is vital for the continued advancement and accessibility of our targeted cancer treatments. We are proud to stand alongside other Canadian leaders in recognizing the role CANDU plays in our healthcare ecosystem and look forward to a strong collaboration.'

The CANDU moment

Canada enjoys world-leading expertise in the design, construction, operations, maintenance, and overall program management of nuclear reactors, supported by a highly qualified supply chain. CANDU technology is one of Canada's most important innovations and remains the nation's only domestically developed and licensed nuclear technology.

CANDU technology-which uses natural uranium-renowned for its safety, efficiency, and versatility, stands as a source of pride for Canadians and remains a leading force in nuclear innovation worldwide. Six decades after it was first developed, it stands as the linchpin of a vibrant Canadian nuclear ecosystem that supports over 89,000 stable and well-remunerated jobs across a wide variety of professional and skilled trades fields, not to mention researchers at our world-class universities and research institutions.1

CANDU technology remains the only nuclear power technology that coproduces the medical isotopes that are used in cancer-fighting treatments and the sterilization of medical devices. The current CANDU fleet in Ontario produces 50% of the world's supply of Cobalt-60, which is used for medical device sterilization.2

CANDU intellectual property is owned by the federal government. It is a national strategic asset critical to the energy transition, supporting significant economic opportunities for Canadians.

The Canadians for CANDU campaign calls on the federal and provincial governments to support the only made-in-Canada nuclear technology on the market to help the country reach net-zero and support a thriving domestic nuclear ecosystem.

About Canadians for CANDU

Canadians for CANDU includes industry leaders, members of the domestic supply-chain, academics, and citizens who believe Canadian expertise and innovation has a leading role to play in the deployment of nuclear energy solutions at home and abroad. canadiansforcandu.com

About Novartis

Novartis is a focused innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

In Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 600 people to serve the evolving needs of patients and the healthcare system and invests over $30 million in R&D yearly in the country. For more information visit www.novartis.ca.

About AtkinsRealis

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRealis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.