A Medical Device Daily

MDS Nordion (Ottawa), a developer of nuclear medicine, and Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals (MIP; Cambridge, Massachusetts) have signed a six-year renewable contract to manufacture and supply Zemiva, a molecular imaging pharmaceutical being developed for cardiac ischemia, or insufficient blood flow to the heart.

Zemiva, currently in clinical trials, is targeted for the emergency department setting.

“This contract will enable MDS Nordion to build upon our strong development partnership with Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals through the use of our significant development and manufacturing capabilities to meet the commercial market needs of Zemiva,“ said Steve West, president of MDS Nordion.

Zemiva is currently manufactured at MDS Nordion's facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. As a result of the contract, MDS Nordion will expand its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing capabilities at this facility to support the clinical program and commercial supply of Zemiva.

Zemiva's first indication is expected to be for the rapid diagnosis of cardiac ischemia in a hospital's emergency department. Data suggests that Zemiva administered to patients at rest can detect ischemia through imaging patients up to 30 hours after a cardiac event has occurred – potentially enabling the widespread use of imaging in the emergency department for more rapid diagnosis.

Molecular Insight is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of molecular imaging pharmaceuticals and targeted radiotherapeutics. The company's product candidates target markets with significant unmet needs in cardiology, oncology and neurology.