Northwest Medical Isotopes coming to Columbia

A medical company called Northwest Medical Isotopes is coming to Columbia.

It will create a chemical used in detection scans called Molly-99, which detects cancer, heart disease and organ function.

Groundbreaking will take place in late 2016, and when it is completed, the company expects to provide 50 percent of the country with the chemical.

Molly-99 is only made overseas as of now.

One of the two major facilities is closing in 2016 and the other is going through a major overhaul.

Northwest Medical Isotopes CEO, Nicholas Fowler said, “The reason we suggested Columbia are many. The first and foremost being its central location in the United States.”

The facility expansion is expected to generate $50 million in capital investment, once it starts operating in 2016. The site was chosen along Discovery Ridge, the research park in east Columbia approved in 2005, designed to attract new development.

Northwest Medical Isotopes will bring around 70 new jobs to Mid-Missouri.