IBA inks deal with NST for distribution, radiolabeling

Ion Beam Applications (IBA), a provider of PET radiopharmaceuticals, and NeuroSurvival Technologies (NST) have signed a collaboration agreement for radiolabeling and distributing Aposense [18F]-ML-10, NST's agent for molecular imaging of apoptosis, to sites participating in multi-center clinical trials.

The Louvain-La-Neuve, Belguim-based IBA and Petach-Tikva, Israel-based NST said that [18F]-ML-10 is a member of the Aposense family of molecules, a class of rationally-designed, small molecular probes that target and accumulate within cells undergoing apoptosis from its early stages. Apoptosis is a genetically-controlled process of cell death, associated with most medical disorders, in multiple clinical areas including oncology, neurology and cardiology.

IBA Molecular, a business unit of IBA, said it will utilize its network of radio-pharmacies for labeling and distribution of [18F] labeled agents, including more than 37 cyclotron-equipped manufacturing sites.

Under the terms of the agreement, IBA and NST said that they will initially collaborate on developing and optimizing the radio-chemistry and processes necessary for GMP-grade radiolabeling of Aposense compatible with commercial scale distribution. The companies further agreed to work together to supply the radio-labeled agent to multi-center clinical trial sites in the United States and to negotiate terms for commercial supply following FDA approval.

Financial details were not disclosed.

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