Eckert & Ziegler has signed an agreement with Telix Pharmaceuticals (Telix), an Australian-headquartered company, for the exclusive distribution of Illuccix^(R) (Kit for the preparation of Ga-68 PSMA-11 injection) in Germany. Illuccix^(R) is a preparation for imaging prostate cancer with positron emission tomography (PET), currently under review for regulatory approval in multiple markets worldwide, including Germany.

“Illuccix^(R) is anticipated to be one of the most important imaging products for prostate cancer. Widespread approval of a preparation for the diagnosis of prostate cancer is urgently needed and we are pleased to have Telix, a pioneer in bringing this drug to market, as a partner,” explained Dr Harald Hasselmann, member of the Executive Board of Eckert & Ziegler AG and responsible for the Medical segment. “Together with our other products, we will be able to offer nuclear medicine practices and clinics in Germany a fully comprehensive product portfolio for the production of Ga-68 PSMA, once approval has been attained.”

“We are pleased to have entered this commercial distribution agreement with Eckert & Ziegler so that, subject to German regulatory approval, we will together be able to deliver a commercial product to German patients living with prostate cancer as efficiently as possible. Partnering with such a capable and patient-centric leader in nuclear medicine uniquely aligns with Telix’s mission of helping patients with cancer live longer, better quality lives”, explained Telix Chief Executive Officer Dr Christian Behrenbruch.

Illuccix^(R) is offered as a so-called kit preparation for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. For this purpose, Illuccix^(R) enables PSMA-11 to be labelled with the radionuclide Ga-68 directly before injection by medical personnel. After preparing the radiopharmaceutical and injecting it into the patient, tumours that show the so-called prostate-specific membrane antigen can be localised by PET.^[1],[2]

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in Germany, with approximately 68,000 cases in 2020, a significantly higher incidence than either lung cancer (38,000 new cases) or bowel cancer (31,000 new cases).^[3] Prostate cancer was also the second most common cause of cancer death in men, with over 15,000 men dying from the disease in Germany in 2020. More than 290,000 German men were estimated to be living with prostate cancer in 2020.

^[1] Fendler W et al. JAMA Oncol. 2019; 5(6): 856-863.
^[2] Hofman M et al. The Lancet. 2020; 395: 1208-1216.
^[3] IARC Global Cancer Observatory, 202

About Illuccix^(R)
Telix’s lead investigational product, Illuccix^(R) (TLX591-CDx) for prostate cancer imaging, has been accepted for filing by the U.S. FDA, and is under priority evaluation by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Telix is also progressing marketing authorisation applications for Illuccix^(R) in the European Union and Canada. None of Telix’s products have received a marketing authorisation in any jurisdiction.

Read the full press release here.