Jubilant Pharmova Announces CAD 94.5 Million Expansion of Canadian Radiopharmaceutical Facility

In diagnostic applications, a small quantity of a radiopharmaceutical is administered to a patient. The radioactive isotope emits radiation that specialised imaging equipment can detect, allowing physicians to examine physiological processes within the body.

Indian pharmaceutical company Jubilant Pharmova Limited, through its subsidiary Jubilant Radiopharma, is undertaking a CAD 94.5 million expansion of its radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Kirkland, Québec, Canada. The investment will modernise manufacturing infrastructure, expand production capabilities and strengthen research and development in nuclear medicine.

On 8 October 2026, the Government of Canada announced CAD 23.8 million in financial support for the project through its Strategic Response Fund. The investment will help transform the Kirkland facility into a global centre for radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.

The expansion is expected to support 225 high-quality jobs and 35 student co-op placements. It will also strengthen research partnerships involving Canadian universities, scientific institutions and technology companies, particularly in nuclear medicine and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics.

The development highlights the growing international presence of Indian pharmaceutical companies in specialised healthcare technologies, including radiopharmaceuticals used in cardiac imaging, cancer diagnosis and nuclear medicine treatments.

Jubilant Radiopharma Expands Its Québec Manufacturing Facility

The CAD 94.5 million project will involve substantial modernisation of Jubilant Radiopharma’s existing manufacturing infrastructure in Kirkland, a municipality in the Montréal metropolitan region.

According to the Canadian government’s announcement, the investment will upgrade existing production lines, create additional manufacturing spaces and modernise laboratory, storage and shipping facilities. These improvements are intended to increase manufacturing capabilities while strengthening the reliability of radiopharmaceutical supply chains.

Radiopharmaceutical manufacturing requires highly specialised infrastructure because many products contain radioactive isotopes with relatively short half-lives. Production facilities must maintain strict controls over radiation safety, product purity, sterile manufacturing conditions and distribution schedules.

The proposed improvements will strengthen Jubilant’s ability to manufacture and distribute these specialised products to hospitals and diagnostic centres.

The Canadian government has identified the project as part of its wider effort to improve domestic medical manufacturing capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities in healthcare supply chains.

Understanding Radiopharmaceuticals and Their Medical Applications

Radiopharmaceuticals are medicinal products containing radioactive isotopes used for diagnostic imaging or targeted medical treatment.

In diagnostic applications, a small quantity of a radiopharmaceutical is administered to a patient. The radioactive isotope emits radiation that specialised imaging equipment can detect, allowing physicians to examine physiological processes within the body.

Unlike conventional imaging methods that primarily display anatomical structures, nuclear medicine techniques can provide information about blood circulation, organ function and cellular activity.

Two important nuclear imaging technologies are Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Both use radioactive tracers, but they differ in the type of radiation detected and the methods used to reconstruct images.

These technologies assist physicians in evaluating cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, neurological disorders and other medical conditions.

Radiopharmaceuticals also have therapeutic applications. Selected radioactive compounds can deliver radiation to specific tissues, providing treatment options for conditions such as thyroid disorders and certain cancers.

RUBY-FILL Technology Supports Advanced Cardiac PET Imaging

One of Jubilant Radiopharma’s established products is RUBY-FILL, a rubidium-82 generator system used in cardiac positron emission tomography.

Cardiac PET imaging allows physicians to evaluate blood flow through the heart muscle, helping assess coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular conditions.

RUBY-FILL uses a generator containing strontium-82, which decays to produce rubidium-82. The rubidium-82 is collected through a controlled elution process and administered as a radioactive tracer for myocardial perfusion imaging.

Rubidium-82 has an exceptionally short half-life of approximately 76 seconds. This makes generator-based production particularly useful because the isotope can be prepared close to the time of administration rather than transported over long distances.

The RUBY-FILL system is designed to provide a reliable source of rubidium-82 for cardiac PET procedures while supporting automated operation and controlled tracer delivery.

Jubilant Pharmova has reported expanding adoption of RUBY-FILL in its radiopharmaceutical business. In its FY2025–26 financial disclosures, the company stated that the installed base of RUBY-FILL systems had increased by 35% during the year, compared with 21% growth in the preceding financial year.

The Kirkland investment will strengthen the company’s overall radiopharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure. Although the broader expansion has been officially confirmed, the Canadian government’s 8 October announcement does not specify a doubling of RUBY-FILL production capacity.

Canadian Government Provides CAD 23.8 Million Financial Support

The Government of Canada’s CAD 23.8 million contribution will come through the Strategic Response Fund, a programme supporting industrial investment, technological development and supply-chain resilience.

The funding represents approximately one-quarter of the announced CAD 94.5 million project value.

Canada’s Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, announced the investment during an event in Kirkland on 8 October 2026. She emphasised the importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity for essential healthcare products and supporting skilled employment.

The project is expected to create and maintain 225 jobs in Québec while providing 35 co-operative education placements for students.

These placements will help connect academic training with industrial experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, nuclear medicine and related scientific disciplines.

The investment also supports Canada’s broader strategy of maintaining domestic capabilities in medical isotopes and specialised pharmaceutical production.

Research Expansion Includes Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Diagnostics

Beyond manufacturing capacity, the Kirkland project will support additional research and development activities.

The Canadian government has identified collaborations involving universities, research institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises as an important component of the programme.

These partnerships will focus on areas including artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics and nuclear medicine research.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being investigated for applications in medical imaging, including image reconstruction, quantitative analysis and clinical workflow optimisation.

In nuclear medicine, advanced computational techniques can assist researchers in analysing imaging data and developing tools that may improve diagnostic interpretation.

However, the clinical application of AI-based diagnostic systems requires appropriate validation and regulatory oversight.

The proposed collaborations will provide Jubilant Radiopharma with opportunities to combine radiopharmaceutical expertise with developments in medical imaging software and computational technologies.

Jubilant Pharmova Strengthens Its Global Nuclear Medicine Business

Jubilant Pharmova operates internationally across radiopharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, contract research and development, allergy immunotherapy and proprietary drug development.

Its radiopharmaceutical activities are conducted through Jubilant Radiopharma, which develops, manufactures and distributes diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine products.

The business operates manufacturing infrastructure in Canada and a radiopharmacy distribution network in the United States.

Jubilant’s radiopharmaceutical portfolio includes products used in cardiac imaging, brain imaging, bone imaging, kidney imaging and thyroid-related medical applications.

The company’s Canadian operations are particularly important because specialised radiopharmaceutical manufacturing depends on regulatory compliance, established isotope supply chains and reliable distribution infrastructure.

Expansion at Kirkland will strengthen an existing international manufacturing centre rather than establish an entirely new overseas operation.

The project also demonstrates how an Indian-origin pharmaceutical group can participate in advanced global healthcare supply chains through specialised overseas facilities.

Growing Demand for Nuclear Medicine Creates New Manufacturing Opportunities

Nuclear medicine is becoming an increasingly important field within modern healthcare as hospitals adopt more specialised diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

Cardiac PET imaging provides information about myocardial blood flow, while other radiopharmaceutical applications help physicians investigate cancer, neurological conditions and organ function.

The expansion of these services requires reliable supplies of medical isotopes, sophisticated manufacturing systems and specialised pharmaceutical distribution networks.

Unlike many conventional pharmaceutical products, radiopharmaceuticals must account for radioactive decay during manufacturing, transport and administration.

For products containing short-lived isotopes, production planning and distribution efficiency are particularly important.

These requirements create opportunities for companies with established technical expertise, regulatory capabilities and specialised manufacturing infrastructure.

Jubilant Radiopharma’s planned investment addresses these needs through improvements in production facilities, laboratories and associated logistics systems.

Expansion Strengthens India’s International Pharmaceutical Presence

India’s pharmaceutical industry has developed a substantial global presence through generic medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, vaccines, research services and contract manufacturing.

Specialised radiopharmaceuticals represent a technologically demanding segment of this broader industry.

Jubilant Pharmova’s operations demonstrate the increasing diversification of Indian pharmaceutical groups into advanced areas requiring expertise in nuclear chemistry, pharmaceutical engineering and medical diagnostics.

Its Canadian expansion is particularly relevant because it combines Indian corporate ownership with overseas research, specialised manufacturing and international healthcare distribution.

The project will primarily strengthen Canadian manufacturing capabilities and employment. At the same time, it will reinforce the global business operations of an Indian pharmaceutical group active in high-value medical technologies.

Such investments reflect the international development of India’s pharmaceutical industry beyond traditional medicines and conventional formulations.

Jubilant Radiopharma Prepares for Its Next Phase of Growth

The immediate focus of the Kirkland project will be upgrading manufacturing infrastructure, expanding production facilities and strengthening research capabilities.

The announced investment will also support improvements in storage and shipping arrangements, which are essential for maintaining reliable radiopharmaceutical distribution.

Jubilant Radiopharma Chief Executive Officer Harsher Singh welcomed the Canadian government’s support, highlighting the company’s existing nuclear medicine capabilities and the importance of ensuring dependable access to radiopharmaceutical products.

The company has not announced a specific completion date for the entire expansion programme in the Canadian government’s 8 October release.

The project nevertheless provides a substantial investment framework for strengthening Jubilant’s long-term manufacturing and research operations in Québec.

Jubilant Pharmova’s CAD 94.5 million Canadian expansion represents a significant development in the international growth of India’s specialised pharmaceutical industry. By combining advanced radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, nuclear medicine research and international collaboration, the project will strengthen the company’s role in supplying technologies that support modern medical diagnosis and treatment.


References

  1. Government of Canada — Government Announces New Investment to Strengthen Canada’s Domestic Radiopharmaceutical Production Capacity. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 8 October 2026.
    https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2026/10/government-of-canada-announces-new-investment-to-strengthen-canadas-domestic-radiopharmaceutical-production-capacity.html
  2. Jubilant Pharmova Limited — Official Corporate Announcements and Business Updates.
    https://www.jubilantpharmova.com/newsroom/announcements
  3. Jubilant Pharmova Limited — Investor Presentations. Financial performance, radiopharmaceutical business and RUBY-FILL expansion.
    https://www.jubilantpharmova.com/investors/financials/investor-presentation
  4. Jubilant Radiopharma — Official Business Overview. Radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, nuclear medicine products and distribution operations.
    https://www.jubilantpharma.com/jubilant-radiopharma
  5. Jubilant Radiopharma — Radiopharmaceutical Product Portfolio. Official product brochure covering RUBY-FILL and other nuclear medicine products.
    https://www.jubilantpharmova.com/Uploads/image/1483imguf_jubilant-radiopharma-brochure.pdf