MDS Nordion announces commercial availability of lutetium, rhenium Radioisotopes support promising research and emerging applications in cancer therapy OTTAWA, Canada, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Nordion today announced the commercial availability of rhenium-186 (Re-186) and high specific activity lutetium-177 (Lu-177). The availability of these radioisotopes is in response to growing demand from the global nuclear medicine community for isotopes used in targeted radiotherapy research for the development of new cancer therapies. According to recent market reports, the number of targeted radiotherapy procedures performed annually in the United States will grow from less than 5,000 in 2002 to over 200,000 in 2008 as more radiotherapy products become commercially available. "MDS Nordion is committed to providing the research community with the isotopes they require," said Iain Trevena, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Medicine at MDS Nordion. "The commercial availability of these isotopes will help the nuclear medicine community pursue research that may lead to new forms of cancer treatment as well as allow us to broaden our capabilities in the development of these promising new therapies." High specific activity isotopes, such as MDSNordion's Lu-177, are a favored alternative in certain applications. "A higher specific activity product is preferred when radiolabeling peptides, in particular those peptides that are considered pharmacologically active like Substance P and Bombesin derivatives, as it will reduce the total peptide mass that needs to be administered, lowering the incidence of potential side effects and improving patient welfare," said Professor Helmut R. Maecke, a leading medical researcher with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine at University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland. MDS Nordion is already a key supplier of yttrium-90 (Y-90) and iodine-131 (I-131) used in the only two radioimmunotherapies currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. "As with Y-90 and I-131, we clearly have the capacity to increase production of Lu-177 and Re-186 as demand grows, and to develop manufacturing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies as research products move through clinical trials and into commercial production," Trevena said. Lu-177 is being investigated in several studies around the world. Its relatively long 6.65-day half life allows more sophisticated procedures to be used to purify and synthesize the radiopharmaceutical for commercial use, as well as making Lu-177 easier to combine with biologically active compounds. Lu- 177 is a low-energy beta emitter, providing a tissue-penetration range that may be more effective for smaller tumors. Re-186 is currently being used for pain palliation from cancerous metastases in bones and is being investigated for a range of radiotherapeutic applications. Both Lu-177 and Re-186 emit gamma radiation that enables diagnostic imaging of tissue. MDS Nordion's technical, operational and market expertise means that the nuclear medicine community now has a dependable and secure source of supply for Lu-177 and Re-186. With over 50 years of experience, MDS Nordion offers consistent product quality, flexible product options, responsive customer service and strong technical and scientific expertise. MDS Nordion's global distribution system ensures quality and timely delivery of short-lived isotopes. MDS Nordion (http://www.mds.nordion.com/) is a world leader in radioisotopes, radiation and related technologies. MDS Nordion is part of MDS Inc. At MDS Inc., our 10,000 highly skilled people provide services, products and instruments enabling health sciences organizations to enhance the well being of people around the world. We focus on helping discover and test new drugs, assisting doctors to diagnose and treat patients and preventing the spread of disease. Find out more about MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), at http://www.mdsintl.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Nordion CONTACT: Olivia Nixon, Media Relations, MDS Nordion, Tel: (613) 592-3400 ext. 2832, E-mail: ; Kirsten Gartenburg, inmedia Public Relations, Tel: (613) 234-7227 ext. 230, E-mail:

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