03.02.2016
Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG DE0005659700
DGAP-News: Eckert & Ziegler expands cooperation program with drug developers in the field of nuclear medicine
DGAP-News: Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG / Key word(s):
Alliance
Eckert & Ziegler expands cooperation program with drug developers in the
field of nuclear medicine
03.02.2016 / 11:00
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Berlin, February 3, 2016 - Eckert & Ziegler AG, a specialist for
isotope-based applications in medicine, science and industry, is expanding
its cooperation program with promising drug developers in the field of
nuclear medicine and will support Curasight, a spin-off based on research
by the group of Professor Andreas Kjaer at the National University Hospital
(Rigshospitalet) and University of Copenhagen, in obtaining market
clearance for its uPAR breast cancer diagnostic agent. To do so, Eckert &
Ziegler - represented by its Radiopharma segment - will focus mainly on the
development and validation of the pharmaceutical production process and
leverage its isotope laboratories and global infrastructure for this
purpose. The pre-clinical and clinical trials, however, will continue to be
managed from Denmark.
In exchange for its services, Eckert & Ziegler will receive minority
interests on a step by step basis. To a minor extent, the Group also will
commit to a financial investment. However, the main contribution to the
increase in Curasight's value remains the experience with the pitfalls of
the approval process and the special requirements in the field of
radiopharmaceuticals.
"Many international drug developers have already taken advantage of our
services, including Octreopharm Sciences GmbH, which is developing
diagnostic and therapeutic agents for the treatment of neuroendocrine
tumors. Last year, Octreopharm was also successfully sold to the French
pharmaceutical company IPSEN," Dr. André Heß, Member of the Executive Board
of Eckert & Ziegler AG and responsible for the Radiopharma segment,
explains. "We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Eckert &
Ziegler AG and believe the two companies are a perfect match", says Morten
Persson, CEO and co-founder, Curasight.
The rising demand for nuclear medicine imaging methods (PET/CT) and the
trend toward personalized medicine are leading more and more small, highly
qualified drug developers for radiopharmaceuticals to enter the market.
Eckert & Ziegler has decades of experience in isotope technology, allowing
it to help these new companies develop their medicinal products. The
support provided includes the use of isotope laboratories as well as the
complete development of radiopharmaceutical production and testing methods
(CMC) by Eckert & Ziegler.
Curasight has successfully guided the medicinal product known as uPAR
(Ga-68-NOTA-AE105) through clinical phase I. As a Ga-68-based
radiodiagnostic agent, it is primarily intended to diagnose breast cancer.
The current practice for evaluating diagnostic findings often entails
removing the sentinel lymph node surgically and examining the tissue. By
performing a biopsy of the lymph node, experts can identify whether a tumor
has already metastasized and then determine what the options are for the
further course of treatment. In the future, the new medicinal product will
aim to make performing these biopsies unnecessary in many cases.
Curasight's aim in developing this product is to make it possible with the
help of a PET scan to determine in a non-invasive fashion the extent to
which metastases have formed in the sentinel lymph node and elsewhere, and
whether the lymph node actually needs to be removed. By receiving an
individual diagnosis that is tailored to their specific case, many women
with breast cancer can be spared unpleasant side effects. It would also
reduce the overall examination time.
With approximately 1.7 million new cases per year across the globe, breast
cancer is the second most common type of cancer (WHO World Cancer Report
2014). Each year, some 70,000 women in Germany alone are diagnosed with
breast cancer.
Apart from Eckert & Ziegler, SEED Capital Denmark − Denmark's largest early
stage venture fund − is also an investor in Curasight.
With around 700 employees, Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG
(ISIN DE0005659700) is one of the world's largest providers of isotope
technology components for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.
For further information or questions, please contact:
Eckert & Ziegler AG, Karolin Riehle, Investor Relations
Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 30 941084-138, [email protected], www.ezag.de
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03.02.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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Language: English
Company: Eckert & Ziegler Strahlenund Medizintechnik AG
Robert-Rössle-Str.10
13125 Berlin
Germany
Phone: 49 30 941084-138
Fax: 49 30 941084-112
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.ezag.de
ISIN: DE0005659700
WKN: 565970
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart;
Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf,
Hamburg, Munich
End of News DGAP News Service
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