BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The radiation and medical technology group Eckert & Ziegler is considering a separation from its subsidiary Pentixapharm. In the plan, up to 100 percent of the shares could be sold, the SDax-listed company announced in Berlin on Friday. "Eckert & Ziegler is thus focusing on its core competencies in order to further expand its position as a leading supplier of radioisotopes for the production of radiopharmaceuticals," it said in justification. Eckert & Ziegler had already held out the prospect of granting external investors access to Pentixapharm when it presented its 2022 annual report. Shares in Eckert & Ziegler rose by 2.1 percent after the announcement.

Only at the beginning of the week, the Executive Board had seen itself on track to meet its annual targets. The company confirmed these again on Friday. In the third quarter, sales were up 15 percent year-on-year to 65.9 million euros as a result of continued high demand for radioisotopes for pharmaceutical applications. Net income increased by almost a fifth to 9.4 million euros./ngu/he