RLS Radiopharmacies announced it has expanded its radiopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing (rCDMO) capabilities by entering into a strategic agreement with global isotope technology leader Eckert & Ziegler SE. Under the partnership, all 31 of RLS's radiopharmacies will be equipped with Eckert & Ziegler's advanced GalliaPharm®? generators, which the radiopharmacy network will utilize to produce high-quality, life-enhancing Gallium-68-based (Ga-68) radiopharmaceuticals.

Ga-68 is crucial for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and plays a pivotal role in the accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment planning for patients with neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. RLS is also investing in the future by building a national distributed rCDMO network. 80,000 sq.

ft. of space across eight of its pharmacies will be used for radiopharmaceutical development, manufacturing and the production of medical isotopes such as Gallium-68, Actinium-225 and Lutetium-177. RLS now offers Ga-68-based radiolabeling, custom compounding, patient dose preparation and last-mile delivery.

Ga-68 from GalliaPharm®? generator is used in the preparation of radiodiagnostics for neuroendocrine tumors and prostate Cancer (Ga-68-PSMA) in countries all around the world. The generator offers a low-cost alternative for the radiolabeling of biomolecules with Gallium-68 in PET, an imaging examination method used to detect the presence or absence of diseased tissue.

The Ge-68/Ga-68 generator on the other hand, is an easily transportable, small metal box and can be obtained much more cost-efficient, leading to cost reductions in nuclear medicine clinics and practices while increasing flexibility.