Category Archives: Annoucements

UPPI Appoints Colin Spear as New President to Lead Next Phase of Growth at UPPI, LLC

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Suwanee, GA – July 20, 2026 – UPPI, LLC, an association of independent and university-based nuclear medicine pharmacies, today announced the appointment of Colin Spear as its new President, effective August 1, 2026.

In this role, Spear will provide strategic leadership for the organization, focusing on driving shareholder and affiliate value, strengthening vendor and strategic partner relationships, overseeing key financial and operational activities, and advancing UPPI’s Group Purchasing Organization initiatives. He will also work closely with the Board and member organizations to accelerate growth opportunities in nuclear medicine, PET imaging, and theranostics.

Spear brings more than 13 years of progressive leadership experience in the radiopharmaceutical, nuclear medicine, PET imaging, and theranostics sectors. Most recently, he served as Area Sales Director, Eastern United States, for RLS Radiopharmacies, where he led commercial growth and market expansion initiatives across a broad multi-state region. Prior to that, he held national leadership positions including National Accounts Director, PET & Therapeutic Strategies, and Strategic Accounts Director, PET & Therapeutics.

Throughout his career, Spear has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive growth, build strategic partnerships, and execute complex business initiatives. He is widely recognized for his expertise in radiopharmaceutical operations, national account development, oncology partnerships, reimbursement strategy, and commercialization efforts. His industry knowledge, strategic mindset, and proven leadership experience position him well to guide UPPI through its next phase of growth and innovation.

“The radiopharmaceutical industry is entering a transformative era, and I am excited to lead this dynamic organization through its next chapter of growth,” said Colin Spear. “As we continue to push the boundaries of radiopharmaceuticals and theranostics, our focus remains on anticipating the evolving needs of hospitals, clinics, and patients while delivering innovative solutions that expand access and improve outcomes.

“Spear’s exceptional track record, industry expertise, and strategic vision make him the ideal leader for UPPI’s next chapter,” said Steve Mize, Chairman of the UPPI Board of Directors. “His deep understanding of the radiopharmacy marketplace and proven ability to build strong partnerships will help strengthen our organization and position UPPI for continued success.”

About UPPI, LLC

Established in 1998, UPPI has become a leader in traditional nuclear medicine and the rapidly growing theranostics radiopharmacy field. Representing more than 55 independent and institutional operating sites across the United States, UPPI provides its members with national purchasing strength and access to customizable local programs that advance the professionalism and growth of the industry. For more information, visit www.uppi.org.https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/20/3329788/0/en/uppi-appoints-colin-spear-as-new-president-to-lead-next-phase-of-growth-at-uppi-llc.html

Contact:

Michelle Thompson

mthompson@uppi.org

AtomVie Global Radiopharma Collaborates with RLS & UPPI to Strengthen its Existing U.S. Radiotherapeutic Distribution Network

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HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. (AtomVie), a leading radiopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), is proud to announce strategic collaborations with RLS Radiopharmacies and UPPI LLC. (UPPI), two industry leaders in radiopharmacy and logistics. This strategic move is poised to enhance AtomVie’s logistics capabilities within the United States, ensuring the widespread distribution of high-quality radiopharmaceuticals by implementing RLS and UPPI as key partners within AtomVie’s existing U.S. distribution network. AtomVie specializes in the GMP manufacturing and global distribution of radiopharmaceuticals, RLS the only Joint Commission-accredited radiopharmacy network in the U.S., owns and operates 31 radiopharmacies covering more than 80% of the United States population, and UPPI, organized as a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), brings extensive capabilities in logistics and distribution.

Radiopharmaceuticals play a pivotal role in precision medicine solutions, providing innovative and promising treatments for various cancer indications. Recognizing the logistics challenges associated with radiopharmaceuticals, given their short half-lives and the critical importance of timely administration; AtomVie, together with RLS and UPPI will bolster its distribution capabilities and allow life-saving treatments to reach more patients.

“Our commitment to transforming patient lives through high-quality radiopharmaceuticals is at the core of this partnership with RLS and UPPI,” commented Bruno Paquin, CEO of AtomVie. He added “These collaborations strengthen our ability to deliver critical radiopharmaceuticals to more locations, ensuring timely access for patients who rely on the products. These partnerships not only meet the current demand but position us for future growth, as we meaningfully expand our manufacturing capacity and add commercial-scale capabilities.”

Under the agreements, AtomVie will leverage RLS’s and UPPI’s extensive radiopharmacy network, as the companies aim to swiftly deliver radiopharmaceuticals to healthcare providers.

RLS CEO Stephen Belcher expressed confidence in the partnership’s impact on patient care, stating, “Radiopharmaceuticals begin to decay very rapidly, and it is critical that they reach patients in a safe and timely manner. That’s why this partnership is so important. We are the last mile experts, and by adding our radiopharmacies to its network, AtomVie can ensure its portfolio of life-enhancing therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals reach the right place at the right time, every time.”

John Witkowski, President of UPPI highlighted the partnership’s impact, promoting greater accessibility and enhanced well-being for individuals, stating “This partnership is a significant step forward in improving access to life-saving radioisotope-based therapeutics and diagnostics. It reflects our joint commitment to delivering precision medicine solutions for patients across the nation.”

As leaders in their respective fields, AtomVie, RLS, and UPPI bring unique expertise to this strategic partnership, offering seamless radiopharmaceutical solutions and emphasizing their collective goal to revolutionize patient care by providing consistent access to high-quality radiopharmaceutical options nationwide.

About AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc.

AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. (AtomVie) is a global leading CDMO for the GMP manufacturing and worldwide distribution of clinical and commercial radiopharmaceuticals. AtomVie offers the full range of scientific, technical, regulatory, quality, logistics and business expertise combined with a specialized infrastructure for the development of radiopharmaceuticals from clinical studies to the commercial marketplace. AtomVie currently serves international clients conducting studies in over 20 countries worldwide. AtomVie is currently building a state-of-art purpose-built, scalable facility of >70,000 sq ft in Hamilton Ontario that is set to be ready in late 2024. For more information, visit https://www.atomvie.com/

About RLS Inc.

RLS Radiopharmacies (Radioisotope Life Sciences) owns one of the largest radiopharmacy networks in the U.S., with 31 radiopharmacies covering more than 80% of the population. The company also offers an extensive portfolio of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical products. RLS endeavors to supply the highest quality radiopharmaceuticals in the industry by dispensing 100 percent of injectable unit dose products in clean rooms built to ISO 1644-1 specifications. In support of its commitment to quality, RLS provides tailored solutions and exceptional service to more than 1,500 customers. For more information, please visit www.rls.bio.

About UPPI LLC

Established in 1998, UPPI has become a leader in traditional nuclear medicine and in the rapidly growing field of theranostics. Representing more than 60 independent and institutional operating sites across the country, UPPI provides its members national strength in buying relationships as well as access to customizable local programs that advance the professionalism of the industry. For more information, visit: www.uppi.org

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SOURCE AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc.

UPPI President JOHN WITKOWSKI receives prestigious American Pharmacists Association Award

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25 March 2023; Phoenix, AZ USA UPPI President John Witkowski received the 2023 APhA Honorary Membership Award in recognition of his sustained contributions to ensuring the advancement of the nuclear pharmacy profession in the United States. The award recognized Mr. Witkowski’s decades long career in the nuclear pharmacy industry encompassing his role in sales and culminating with his current position as President of UPPI, a nationwide network of independently owned and university based radiopharmacies and cyclotrons. Of particular note was Mr. Witkowski’s work with the United States Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration which recognized UPPI for outstanding achievement in support of ensuring reliable supplies of molybdenum-99 produced without the use of highly enriched uranium. Under Mr. Witkowski’s leadership, UPPI’s innovation and initiative through the “LEU Walk” and other efforts demonstrated its dedication to the essential international effort to promote reliable supplies of molybdenum-99 produced without highly enriched uranium for the global marketplace. Further recognition was given by Vizient, the nation’s leading healthcare performance improvement company when it named UPPI its Distributor of the Year in 2017. Most recently, Mr. Witkowski has placed UPPI’s focus on bringing emerging theranostics to patients in the US.

 Honorary Member John Witkowski v2.mp4

UPPI Participates in Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Regulatory Information Conference

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March 9, 2021

Making an Impact: Innovation in the Production of Medical Radioisotopes

Session Chair: Brian Smith, Deputy Director Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities

John Witkowski President UPPI Session Panelist

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Session T14

Discussion topics:

Significance of a reliable medical isotope supply chain

Mo 99 supply chain resilience in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges to establishing supply and supply chain resilience

Importance of technology innovation

Impact of medical radioisotope production on the future of the nuclear industry