OTTAWA, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - MDS Nordion, a leading global provider of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging, is investing U.S. $5.8 million / (euro) 4.5 million to expand its production facility in Fleurus, Belgium to meet the growing demand for a medical imaging agent used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The agent, Fluorine-18 Fludeoxyglucose or FDG, is marketed and distributed by MDS Nordion under the name Glucotrace(R). Glucotrace(R) is used in a highly sensitive medical imaging technique called PET or Positron Emission Tomography. As cancer rates continue to rise in Europe, the use of PET is increasing to diagnose cancer and monitor patient progress while in treatment.
Glucotrace(R) is a time-sensitive diagnostic pharmaceutical with a limited lifespan. As a result, it is critical to have the ability to reliably supply Glucotrace(R) to hospitals and clinical sites on time. With this expansion, MDS Nordion will be able to serve more customers within France and the Benelux Economic Union (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg).
“The new production facility will give MDS Nordion the ability to meet increased demand from our current customers as well as extend our market reach to new customers,” said Steve West, President of MDS Nordion. “We are committed to providing a reliable supply of Glucotrace(R) to the medical imaging community in Europe.”
Through this investment and capital upgrade, MDS Nordion will build a larger production centre for Glucotrace(R) within its existing facilities in Fleurus. The investment will also optimize MDS Nordion’s current resources including a higher capacity cyclotron to produce FDG.
Presently, MDS Nordion produces Glucotrace(R) as part of a joint venture with the University of Liege (ULG) about 80 kilometres west of Fleurus. The new MDS Nordion facility in Fleurus, combined with the existing site at ULG, will greatly increase production capacity for Europe as well as provide the necessary manufacturing and supply flexibility to serve growing market demand.
First production of Glucotrace(R) from the new facility in Fleurus is expected to begin in mid-2008. Glucotrace(R) is approved for sale across Europe.
About MDS Nordion
MDS Nordion (www.mds.nordion.com) is a world leader in medical isotopes, radiation and related technologies. It is a division of MDS Inc. . MDS Inc. is a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs and 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 5,600 highly skilled people in 28 countries. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.
MDS Nordion
CONTACT: Media Inquiries, Olivia Nixon, MDS Nordion, (613) 592-2790 ext.2558, (613) 724-1767 (Mobile), olivia.nixon@mdsinc.com; Investor Inquiries,Sharon Mathers, Vice-President, Investor Relations and ExternalCommunications, (416) 675-6777 ext. 34721, sharon.mathers@mdsinc.com
