DGAP-News: Eckert & Ziegler commissioned to produce an innovative cancer medication

21.10.2009

Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Berlin, 21 October 2009 - Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) today announced that it has been commissioned to produce an innovative cancer medication for the American drug developer Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIPI) based in Cambridge, MA. Eckert & Ziegler will set up a new production plant for this purpose at its Braunschweig location with financial support from MIPI. The compound Onalta(R), is a novel radiotherapeutic product candidate under development for the treatment of certain neuroendocrine tumors. The delivery peptide will be combined with a therapeutic radioisotope (90Y edotreotide) at the plant to produce the drug product. The production plant will be used for both the manufacture of test batches for clinical development and, later, for the manufacture of the approved radiopharmaceuticals.

The Eckert & Ziegler Executive Board member with responsibility for the Radiopharmaceuticals segment, Dr. André Hess, had this to say: 'We are very pleased to have been selected by MIPI as a strategic partner for this interesting and, from a medical point of view, extremely important product. This decision shows that the Radiopharmaceuticals division we launched just a few years ago, an approved manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, has both the skills in radiochemical technology and the infrastructure required to satisfy the needs of innovative R&D companies such as MIPI. We expect many more projects of this kind in the years to come, and are confident that we will be able to build on our position as one the world's most important provider of nuclear-imaging compounds.' Eckert & Ziegler already has a number of radiopharmaceutical production locations in Germany and markets the approved product Yttriga(R), a preliminary stage for many radiotherapy treatments, as well as fluorine-18-based radiodiagnostic compounds for nuclear imaging (PET). In addition, Eckert & Ziegler supplies nuclear-imaging facilities around the world with synthesis technology and gallium-68 radionuclide generators.

Molecular Insight's President and CEO, Daniel L. Peters, said: 'This agreement is the basis for the supply of the pivotal studies and the subsequent manufacture of the approved product. Onalta(R) is a novel radiotherapeutic product candidate for treatment of inoperable neuroendocrine tumors. This collaboration is the first step in Molecular Insight's strategy to advance the Company's broad pipeline of five clinical candidates through collaboration with strategic partners and through the Company's own development efforts.'

About Eckert & Ziegler: Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG ist a holding company whose specialized subsidiaries are engaged worldwide in the processing of radioistoopes and the development, manufacture and sale of components based on isotope technology, radiation equipment and radio-pharmaceuticals or of related products. Eckert & Ziegler AG is one of the world's largest providers of isotope component technology for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine and is listed at the Frankfurt stock exchange. The Berlin based company has 520 employees and expects sales of approx. 100 Mio EUR in 2009. For more information see www.ezag.com

About Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and a pioneer in the emerging field of molecular medicine. The company is focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and targeted molecular imaging in oncology and cardiology. Molecular Insight has five clinical-stage candidates in development. In addition to Onalta(R), the Company's other oncology candidates include Azedra(TM), currently in a pivotal trial for pheochromocytoma, Solazed(TM) for treatment of malignant metastatic melanoma, and Trofex(TM)for detecting metastatic prostate cancer. Zemiva(TM) is being developed for the diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia. For more information on Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, please visit www.molecularinsight.com.

Eckert & Ziegler AG, Karolin Riehle, Investor Relations & PR, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, D-13125 Berlin Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 941084-138, Fax-112, E-Mail: karolin.riehle@ezag.de, www.ezag.de

21.10.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Company: Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG
Robert-Rössle-Str.10
13125 Berlin
Deutschland
Phone: 49 30 941084-138
Fax: 49 30 941084-112
E-mail: karolin.riehle@ezag.de
Internet: www.ezag.de
ISIN: DE0005659700, DE000A0L1L69
WKN: 565970, A0L1L6
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Düsseldorf, Hamburg

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