Oncologists also use the Sodium Iodide I-131 radiotherapy capsules to treat hyperthyroidism.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Draximage to make the capsules at its facility in Kirkland, Que., this week. U.S. shipments are expected to start within the next three months.
"This new contract, together with having our radiopharmaceutical manufacturing operation approved by the FDA, clearly demonstrates our ability to capitalize on the current growth in nuclear medicine, particularly in the United States," Martin Barkin, president and CEO of Draxis.
Radiopharmacology is a diagnostic technique used in nuclear medicine where radioactive tracer pharmaceuticals are injected and photographed as they move through the body using a gamma camera.
This deal will be the third radiotherapeutic oncology product that Draximage has had approved by the FDA in less than a year.
Mississauga, Ont.-based Draximage doubled the size of its radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility and installed more assembly robots to meet demands from a growing U.S. radiopharmaceutical market.
Bracco Diagnostics Inc., based in Milan, develops pharmaceuticals and, after filing them with the appropriate regulatory agencies, sells the products in the U.S.
Draximage develops diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the global market.
