Radiopharmaceutical Production Unit at Keele

Molecular Imaging Services Ltd (MIS) announced today that it has signed an agreement to establish its first commercial Radiopharmaceutical Production Unit (RPU) at Keele University Science Park. The unit, the first of its kind outside of London, will produce radiopharmaceuticals for medical purposes to serve the increasing demand for PET scanning in the United Kingdom.

MIS was established in 2002, as a joint venture between Alliance Medical Ltd and Dublin based M2i Ltd. The primary goal of the new company is to establish a number of RPUs that will enable equity of access to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning for patients throughout the United Kingdom.

PET is a revolutionary medical imaging technique used primarily in the diagnosis and treatment management of cancer patients. PET also has applications in Neurology and Cardiology. The growth in the use of this cutting edge technology has been severely restricted by the lack of suitable radio-labelled compounds such as 18F-FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose). The Keele facility will serve the region with widespread availability of the radiopharmaceuticals vital for PET imaging. There will be a strong focus on the production of 18F-FDG, which, with a half-life of only 110 minutes, needs to be produced as near as possible to PET Scanner installations. Without additional RPUs, strategically located in the country, access to PET imaging will continue to be limited to a few patient imaging facilities close to London.

This RPU, and future installations, will serve both hospital based PET facilities and mobile PET scanners. MIS is also exploring a series of collaborative research opportunities for this far-reaching technology with NHS Trusts, Universities and pharmaceutical companies as commercial partners.

“Keele University Science Park is ideally suited to our requirements”, commented Mike Pringle, Commercial Director for PET. “It is geographically well located between the major conurbations of the Midlands and North of England. More than a dozen of the largest UK Cancer Network Hospitals, serving up to 18 million people, could directly benefit from this initiative. In addition, proximity to the new Keele University Medical School and the links to other departments on the University Campus provides wide-ranging research possibilities for all.”

Ciaran Boylan, Director of M2i and Projects Director of MIS said; “We, at M2i, are delighted to enjoin with Alliance Medical in establishing the first of a network of RPUs at Keele University. We are particularly pleased to again play a key role in removing the main barrier to PET imaging through local production of the necessary short-lived radiopharmaceutical, 18F-FDG, under MCA licence. We are well advanced with our plans and expect that the Keele facility will be commissioned and will commence the manufacture of FDG towards the end of 2004”.

The vision and commitment to PET that both Alliance Medical and M2i bring to MIS provides this new venture with an edge that will ensure the rapid and successful expansion of PET imaging across the United Kingdom.

Mike Brereton, Chairman of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority, said: "This development will make an important additional service available to health care professionals in North Staffordshire and the wider region. It confirms Keele's developing status as a key national location for advanced health technology companies and services."

David Leech, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: "I am delighted to hear this announcement. This project will deliver precisely the sort of jobs that we envisaged as a Council having worked with the University to enable the development and expansion of the Science Park. In particular it helps to establish the site as a focus for the establishment of employment around Medical Technologies that will benefit not only North Staffordshire but the whole region."

Simon Morris, Director, Keele Park Developments, said: "Keele Park Developments are delighted that MIS are joining us at the Keele Science Park, bringing leading edge medical technology to North Staffordshire."