PharmaLogic expands US radiopharmaceutical manufacturing through Lantheus acquisition
The deal will transfer Lantheus’ CDMO operations and manufacturing facility to PharmaLogic, which focuses exclusively on radiopharmaceutical development and production.
USA—PharmaLogic has agreed to acquire Lantheus’ contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) business and its Springfield, New Jersey, facility to expand its US radiopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and strengthen its therapeutic development services.
Announced earlier this week, the transaction involves an undisclosed sum and comes as Lantheus awaits completion of its proposed acquisition by radiopharmaceutical company Curium.
The deal will transfer Lantheus’ CDMO operations and manufacturing facility to PharmaLogic, which focuses exclusively on radiopharmaceutical development and production.
The Springfield facility supports theranostic manufacturing, research and clinical development.
Following the transaction, the existing Lantheus team will join Agilera, PharmaLogic’s therapeutic CDMO division.
Expanding radiopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity
The acquisition builds on PharmaLogic’s expansion strategy following its majority investment in Norway-based Agilera Pharma in April.
The investment strengthened its position in radiopharmaceutical contract manufacturing and provided access to established production capabilities across international markets.
Agilera, originally established as a subsidiary of Norway’s Institute for Energy Technology, has supplied more than 600,000 doses of nuclear medicines to patients across the US, Europe and Asia.
Under the latest agreement, Agilera will also support a long-term manufacturing and supply arrangement for lutetium Lu 177 dotatate.
Novartis markets the radiopharmaceutical as Lutathera for treating neuroendocrine tumours.
The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first generic version of the treatment, developed by Curium under the brand name Bexlutry.
Meanwhile, Curium announced plans in August to acquire Lantheus in a transaction valued at more than US$8 billion. The acquisition remains pending completion.
PharmaLogic expects the Springfield facility to increase its US production capacity and extend its ability to support radioligand therapies across the development cycle.
Its services will cover early clinical development, commercial manufacturing and product supply in both North America and Europe.
“This acquisition strengthens Agilera’s unique capabilities in radioligand therapies and expands our capacity in the U.S.,” said Etienne Montagut, PharmaLogic’s CEO.
“We are proud to welcome the talented Springfield team, who will help us scale our operations to meet growing demand from our partners and the patients they serve.”
Investment in radiopharmaceutical production
The transaction follows increased investment in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing as drug developers prepare for growing demand for targeted cancer treatments.
In August, Bristol Myers Squibb committed US$173 million through its subsidiary RayzeBio to build a 225,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Whitestown, Indiana.
The plant will complement RayzeBio’s existing radiopharmaceutical manufacturing site in Indianapolis, located approximately 20 miles southwest.
RayzeBio is advancing RYZ101, a radioligand therapy targeting gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs).
The candidate is undergoing Phase III clinical trials for GEP-NETs and earlier-stage development for small cell lung cancer.
Bristol Myers Squibb reported positive topline Phase III results for RYZ101 in patients with GEP-NETs in October.
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