MDS Nordion Collaborates With Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry to Develop Molybdenum-99 for Global Nuclear Medicine Market
15 Juni 2009 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
New Partnership Seeks to Strengthen Fragile Medical Isotope Supply
Chain OTTAWA, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Nordion, a
leading global provider of medical isotopes and
radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular medicine, today announced
that the Company and the Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry in
Moscow, Russia, have agreed to study the feasibility of the Karpov
Institute providing the Company with a viable and reliable supply
of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for the global nuclear medicine market.
MDS Nordion and the Karpov Institute have agreed to combine their
respective expertise and resources to explore the development of a
commercialization plan to address a portion of the need for a
long-term supply of Moly-99. "This collaboration is a critical
component of MDS Nordion's larger strategy to help secure an
additional and reliable supply of medical isotopes for the global
nuclear medicine community," said Steve West, President of MDS
Nordion. "We are working actively to develop partnerships that seek
to provide a flexible, reliable and responsive medical-isotope
solution while strengthening a fragile supply chain." Together, MDS
Nordion and the Karpov Institute have strong technical and
operational expertise. MDS Nordion has substantial technical and
marketing knowledge; the Karpov Institute brings substantial
nuclear infrastructure and expertise in physics and reactor
operations. "Business co-operation with MDS Nordion meets our
strategic objective of increasing Mo-99 production and entering the
Western markets," said Dr. Alexey Alyakin, PhD, Director General of
the Karpov Institute. "The demand for domestic supply is fully
covered. We believe that this study provides us with a great
opportunity to approach the global market." About the Karpov
Institute The Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry is classified
as a State Scientific Centre, which has been involved in basic and
applied research in the area of physical chemistry for more than 90
years. Production of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals
using the capabilities of the WWR-c research reactor is one of the
most important multi-directional activities currently developed at
our Institute. The Karpov Institute is the main supplier (90%) of
Mo-99 and Tc-99m generators to the domestic Russian market. Our
products are delivered weekly to more than 200 clinics throughout
Russia. About MDS Nordion MDS Nordion, a business unit of MDS Inc.,
is a global leader in providing medical isotopes for molecular and
diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutics and sterilization
technologies for medical products that benefit the lives of
millions of people in more than 50 countries around the world. MDS
Nordion's products and services are used on a daily basis by
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device
manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Find
out more at http://www.mdsnordion.com/ About MDS MDS Inc. (TSX:
MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life sciences company that provides
market-leading products and services that our customers need for
the development of drugs, and the diagnosis and treatment of
disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical
contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging,
radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than
5,000 highly skilled people in 29 countries. Find out more at
http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a
day. DATASOURCE: MDS Nordion CONTACT: MEDIA: Shelley Maclean, (613)
592-3400, ext. 2414, ; INVESTORS: Kim Lee, (416) 213-4721,
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