Our History

History At-a-Glance:

• Founded in 1946, Nordion now markets around 30 products to a well-diversified base of over 500 customers in 60 countries around the world.
• Nordion has:
• Processed cobalt for sterilization for more than 40 years.
• Delivered medical isotopes to our customers for over 30 years.
• Expanded our targeted therapy offerings through a number of partnerships and collaborations in the last 10 years.

Founded in 1946, Nordion’s history is a story of innovation, internationalism, and growth. Today, the company markets around 30 products to a well-diversified base of over 500 customers in 60 countries around the world.

Originally the radium sales department of Eldorado Mining and Refining Ltd., Nordion’s history of innovation started in the late 1940s with the development of one of the first teletherapy units that used the radioisotope cobalt-60 to destroy cancerous tumours. These types of teletherapy units are still being used today to treat patients.

Soon after, the division was given responsibility for selling radioisotopes produced by the newly established nuclear research facility at Chalk River, Ontario. As a result, in 1951, Eldorado established a commercial products division (CPD) to manage the growing isotope business, especially cobalt-60 used in cancer treatment.

In 1952, the federal government created Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), a Crown corporation. Shortly thereafter, CPD was transferred to AECL, where it rose to international prominence and remained for the next 40 years.

Its global success in the medical equipment business resulted in extensive research and development, which in turn led to two businesses that would shape the company for decades to come—the use of cobalt-60 to sterilize products by irradiation; and the delivery of medical isotopes to be injected into the human body to help diagnose and treat illnesses. 

In 1988, ownership was transferred from AECL to the Canadian Development Investment Corporation (CDIC). The company assumed a new name, Nordion International Inc. and was later sold to MDS Health Group in 1991. Since then, Nordion has grown substantially, continuing to improve the lives of millions of people around the world, while expanding its business into new products and markets.

Most recently, Nordion has expanded its targeted therapies offerings through a number of partnerships and collaborations. Nordion's main targeted therapies product is TheraSphere®, which is used in the treatment of inoperable liver cancer. Leveraging our core competencies and building on our established platform, Nordion continues to make a distinct difference in the well being of people worldwide.