On July 10, 2020 ITM Isotopen Technologien München AG (ITM), a biotechnology and radiopharmaceutical group of companies, and RadioMedix Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, reported that ITM has filed a Drug Master File (DMF) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ITM’s next generation Germanium-68/Gallium-68 (68Ge/68Ga) Generator, which is manufactured at the RadioMedix Spica Center in Houston, Texas, U.S. and distributed under the brand name GeGant (Press release, ITM Isotopen Technologien Munchen, JUL 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234561814]).

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The RadioMedix Spica Center is a 21 CFR 211 compliant, and GMP radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility dedicated to late-stage investigational and commercial stage radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. Thousands of 68Ge/68Ga Generators can be produced, annually at this center. This high production capacity enables us to meet the rapidly increasing demand for Gallium-68 in the United States.

The medical, short-lived radioisotope Gallium-68 is used for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging when labeled to a tumor-specific targeting molecule for diagnosis and staging of various cancers, like neuroendocrine tumors or prostate cancer, and for evaluation of response to therapy. PET-imaging is an excellent approach for healthcare professionals looking for precise localization in diagnostic imaging. GeGant allows fast and convenient onsite production of high-quality Gallium-68 for radiolabeling. As well as showing a low breakthrough of Germanium-68, GeGant is available in the sizes of 1 GBq (30 mCi), 2 GBq (50 mCi), and 4 GBq (100 mCi), being among the largest 68Ge/68Ga Generators on the market.

"We are living in an exciting time in the field of nuclear medicine and the menu of targeted PET imaging agents will only grow. 68Ga is among the most important players in this field" said Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand, CEO of RadioMedix. "We are excited to be able to accomplish this milestone in collaboration with our long-term partner ITM, Germany. RadioMedix will be the manufacturer of ITM 68Ge/68Ga Generators, for the first time in the United States. Our high manufacturing capacity will address the significant shortage of this essential device in the market and increases patients’ access to a variety of 68Ga labeled radiopharmaceuticals in the field of oncology." continued Dr. Delpassand.

Steffen Schuster, CEO of ITM said: "We are very pleased to see this DMF submission in the U.S. has taken our close and long-term partnership with RadioMedix to a new level and will enable us to take full advantage of RadioMedix’s great production opportunities." Steffen Schuster added: "With RadioMedix as our strategic partner, we are looking forward to GeGant significantly increasing the availability of Gallium-68 in the U.S. We are confident that we can make a substantial contribution to meeting the growing demand of Targeted Radionuclide Therapies and Diagnostics within the U.S. market."

About GeGant
GeGant is a next generation Germanium-68/Gallium-68 (68Ge/68Ga) Generator allowing fast and convenient onsite-production of the short-lived, medical radioisotope Gallium-68 (68Ga), used in Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for diagnosis and staging of cancers like neuroendocrine tumors or prostate cancer. 68Ga is a radiopharmaceutical precursor, and it is not intended for direct use in patients. Conjugated to a tumor-specific targeting molecule (e.g. peptide or antibody), Gallium-68 is applied for diagnostic imaging via positron emission tomography (PET). It is to be used only for the radiolabeling of targeting molecules that have been specifically developed and authorized for radiolabeling with 68Ga. 68Ga-PET-imaging is an excellent approach for healthcare professionals looking for precise localization in diagnostic imaging. As well as for diagnosis and staging of tumors, Gallium-68 based imaging is used for therapy planning and dosimetry in preparation for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy with its therapeutic companion radioisotope Lutetium-177.

GeGant is a fully shielded source of high-quality Gallium-68 available in different sizes from 1 to 4 GBq, making it the largest 68Ge/68Ga Generator on the market. Gallium-68 is continuously produced by decay of its parent radioisotope Germanium-68 and eluted with low acidic hydrochloric acid. It is suitable for radiolabeling of tumor-specific targeting molecules without prior prepurification.