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MDS Nordion Collaborates With Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry to Develop Molybdenum-99 for Global Nuclear Medicine Market

Posted on: Monday, 15 June 2009, 07:00 CDT

New Partnership Seeks to Strengthen Fragile Medical Isotope Supply Chain

OTTAWA, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - MDS Nordion, a leading global provider of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular medicine, today announced that the Company and the Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry in Moscow, Russia, have agreed to study the feasibility of the Karpov Institute providing the Company with a viable and reliable supply of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for the global nuclear medicine market.

MDS Nordion and the Karpov Institute have agreed to combine their respective expertise and resources to explore the development of a commercialization plan to address a portion of the need for a long-term supply of Moly-99.

"This collaboration is a critical component of MDS Nordion's larger strategy to help secure an additional and reliable supply of medical isotopes for the global nuclear medicine community," said Steve West, President of MDS Nordion. "We are working actively to develop partnerships that seek to provide a flexible, reliable and responsive medical-isotope solution while strengthening a fragile supply chain."

Together, MDS Nordion and the Karpov Institute have strong technical and operational expertise. MDS Nordion has substantial technical and marketing knowledge; the Karpov Institute brings substantial nuclear infrastructure and expertise in physics and reactor operations.

"Business co-operation with MDS Nordion meets our strategic objective of increasing Mo-99 production and entering the Western markets," said Dr. Alexey Alyakin, PhD, Director General of the Karpov Institute. "The demand for domestic supply is fully covered. We believe that this study provides us with a great opportunity to approach the global market."

About the Karpov Institute

The Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry is classified as a State Scientific Centre, which has been involved in basic and applied research in the area of physical chemistry for more than 90 years. Production of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals using the capabilities of the WWR-c research reactor is one of the most important multi-directional activities currently developed at our Institute. The Karpov Institute is the main supplier (90%) of Mo-99 and Tc-99m generators to the domestic Russian market. Our products are delivered weekly to more than 200 clinics throughout Russia.

About MDS Nordion

MDS Nordion, a business unit of MDS Inc., is a global leader in providing medical isotopes for molecular and diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutics and sterilization technologies for medical products that benefit the lives of millions of people in more than 50 countries around the world. MDS Nordion's products and services are used on a daily basis by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Find out more at www.mdsnordion.com

About MDS

MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than 5,000 highly skilled people in 29 countries. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.

SOURCE MDS Nordion

Source: PR Newswire

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