IBA and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes Expand Collaboration to Enable Global Availability of Diagnostic Radioisotope Technetium-99m (Tc-99m)

– Technetium-99m is the daughter isotope of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99)

– The collaboration enables the integration of technology expertise to provide Tc-99m (TCM) generation systems using non-uranium based Mo-99 manufactured using electron beam accelerators

– Diagnostic imaging studies with Tc-99m inform of healthcare decisions for approximately 30 million patients around the world annually

Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium and BELOIT, Wisconsin, USA, March 8th2021 – – IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA, EURONEXT), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, a global innovator in the development, manufacture and marketing of radiopharmaceuticals for medical imaging and therapeutic applications, announced a collaboration today known to increase the worldwide availability of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the most widely used medical radioisotope. The collaboration gives companies outside of the United States access to the Tc-99m Generation Systems (TCM Generation Systems) using NorthStar’s proprietary, uranium-free Mo-99 made with IBA’s accelerators and beamlines.

The cooperation builds on an existing contract, according to which IBA supplies NorthStar with up to eight Rhodotron® TT 300-HE electron beam accelerators. They are used in the manufacture of non-uranium based Mo-99, which enables NorthStar’s FDA-cleared and commercially available RadioGenix® system (Technetium Tc 99m generator) to produce Tc-99m in the United States. The expansion of NorthStar’s Accelerator manufacturing facility in Beloit, Wisconsin is nearing completion. The first pair of IBA accelerators is expected to arrive from Belgium in early April 2021.

“Each year approximately 30 million patients benefit from diagnostic imaging studies with Tc-99m.” said Stephen Merrick, President and Chief Executive Officer of NorthStar. “NorthStar is excited to expand our collaboration with IBA as we consider them an ideal partner to expand the use of uranium-free Mo-99 in support of a sustainable and innovative future for nuclear medicine. Based on their commercial expertise and bespoke approach, we believe IBA complements NorthStar’s global vision to provide innovative solutions that can meet critical patient health care needs related to medical diagnosis. We are proud to be the only commercialized manufacturer of Mo-99 in the US to be the leader in nuclear medicine, having enjoyed more than two years of stable commercial production in the US. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with IBA and are confident that this joint approach has the potential to make non-uranium Mo-99 the world’s leading source of Tc-99m. “

Olivier Legrain, CEO of the IBA, commented: “We are excited to enter into this expanded collaboration for TCM Generation Systems with NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes to give more companies access to this critical healthcare diagnostic tool. IBA’s Rhodotron® accelerators offer the world’s most advanced accelerator technology. We look forward to working with NorthStar to develop innovative solutions that enable a reliable supply of radioisotopes on a global basis and explore additional production possibilities in the future. “

The expansion of NorthStar’s Accelerator manufacturing facility in Beloit, Wisconsin, will ensure sustainable Mo-99 supplies in the US through two manufacturing and processing centers for additional capacity and planning flexibility. Pending appropriate licensing and approval, the facility will expand current Mo-99 processing in Columbia, Missouri, which is conducted in conjunction with the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR®).

About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA) is a global medical technology company focused on providing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the global technology leader in the field of proton therapy and is considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy currently available. IBA’s proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, so customers can choose between full-size, universal proton therapy centers and compact single room solutions. IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry. IBA is headquartered in Belgium and employs around 1,500 people worldwide. The company has installed systems around the world.

IBA is listed on the European exchange EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). Further information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com

Via the RadioGenix® system (Technetium Tc 99m generator)
The RadioGenix system is an innovative high-tech separation platform approved for processing uranium-based molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for the production of the important medical radioisotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m). Prior to the availability of RadioGenix technology, the U.S. supply chain for Mo-99 was exposed to frequent and sometimes serious disruptions that negatively impact patient health care. The RadioGenix system was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 and is the first and only automated isotope separation system of its kind on-site for use with non-uranium-based Mo-99, which is used to alleviate shortages developed and expand the domestic offer. The RadioGenix system is not approved for use outside the United States.

About NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC (NorthStar)
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is a commercial-stage nuclear medicine company that develops, manufactures and manufactures reliable and environmentally friendly diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. The first FDA-cleared diagnostic imaging product is Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which is used as the standard for assessing the extent and severity of heart disease and cancer in 40,000 daily imaging studies. Tc-99m is generated by NorthStar’s novel RadioGenix® system (Technetium Tc 99m generator), which uses US-made non-uranium-based Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) as the feedstock. The company is implementing a well-defined plan to continuously increase the scale of Mo-99 production and continuously improve efficiency to meet the expected increased demand. Therapeutic radioisotopes are playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of cancer, and NorthStar is developing commercial-scale manufacturing technologies to meet the high demand for their use in ongoing clinical trials by several pharmaceutical companies. The company is also expanding a portfolio of other radiopharmaceuticals for use in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. More information is available at: www.northstarnm.com.

CONTACTS:

For IBA
Company and media inquiries:
Olivier Lechien
Corporate Communications Director
+32 10 475 890
[email protected]

Investor Relations:
Soumya Chandramouli
CFO
+32 10 475 890
[email protected]

For NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC
Companies:
Lisa Holst
Vice President Sales and Marketing
678-471-9027
[email protected]

Investor Relations:
Paul Estrem
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
608-987-8318
[email protected]

Media:
Priscilla Harlan
781-799-7917
[email protected]

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