RLS Radiopharmacies is expanding its drug manufacturing capabilities through an agreement with global radioisotope developer Eckert & Ziegler. As part of the supply contract, all 31 of RLS’s radiopharmacies will be equipped with generators capable of producing Gallium-68 pharmaceuticals, which are used for PET imaging cancers. The adoption of the generators will secure a supply of drugs made from the medical isotope, which is vital for developing cancer treatment plans for patients.
Many RLS pharmacies have already installed Eckert & Ziegler’s generators, and the remaining locations should have one by the end of June. All RLS radiopharmacies have clean rooms that meet regulatory compliance standards for management of Gallium-68 isotopes, as well as nuclear pharmacists on staff to oversee production.
The generator, dubbed the GalliaPharm, is a small metal box, offering pharmacies a compact, cost-saving way to produce Gallium-68 pharmaceuticals without the need for large-scale equipment.
“A powerful diagnostic isotope, Gallium has an extremely short half-life, necessitating the need for Ga-68-based radiopharmaceuticals to be produced within minutes of patient dosing,” Stephen Belcher, CEO of RLS said in a statement sent to Health Imaging. “By bringing Eckert & Ziegler’s GalliaPharm generators into our network, we are closing the patient care gap in many parts of the U.S. This signifies a major leap forward in our commitment to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes through cutting-edge radiopharmaceuticals.”
RLS is also planning to build an 80,000 square foot facility spanning eight of its pharmacies that will be used for radiopharmaceutical development and distribution. Several medical isotopes, including Gallium-68, Actinium-225 and Lutetium-177, and associated pharmaceuticals, are set to be distributed by RLS to providers and imaging centers nationwide.
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