SK Biopharm Signs Radioisotope Supply Agreement with Germany's Eckert & Ziegler

SK Biopharm has proactively established a supply chain for actinium-225 in Europe, creating a stable environment for the development of radiopharmaceuticals (RPTs).

Eckert & Ziegler. SK Biopharm

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On December 2, SK Biopharm announced that it had signed a supply agreement for actinium-225 (225Ac) with Eckert & Ziegler, a German company specializing in radioactive isotopes (RIs) with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification for pharmaceuticals.

Actinium-225 is a core material for next-generation anticancer RPTs, as it possesses strong cancer cell-killing power while causing relatively few side effects. However, global production is extremely limited, making stable sourcing of this raw material a critical factor for successful RPT development.

This agreement is significant in that it strengthens the supply stability of the rare raw material actinium-225 by securing an independent supply line within Europe, moving beyond the existing North America-centered supply structure. Previously, in August last year and February this year, SK Biopharm diversified its actinium-225 sourcing channels through collaborations with two global RI suppliers. With this new agreement, the company has further reinforced its network in Europe-a major market for RPTs-laying the foundation for global business expansion.

SK Biopharm plans to accelerate research and development in the RPT field based on a stable supply of actinium-225. The company is expanding its RPT pipeline and strengthening its next-generation anticancer drug development capabilities by pursuing both internal research projects and inorganic growth strategies. Last year, SK Biopharm introduced 'SKL35501' from Full-Life Technologies as its first RPT candidate and is currently preparing to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Phase 1 clinical trials. More recently, the company also acquired a second candidate, 'WT-7695,' from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).

Harald Hasselmann, CEO of Eckert & Ziegler, said, "We are very pleased to supply GMP-certified actinium-225 for SK Biopharm's preclinical and clinical programs. Actinium-225 is one of the essential core RIs for next-generation RPT development, and we are proud to contribute to the advancement of anticancer therapeutics."

Lee Donghoon, CEO of SK Biopharm, stated, "Stabilizing the supply of actinium-225, a key raw material for RPTs, is a prerequisite for successful new drug development. Signing this agreement with Eckert & Ziegler, a company with extensive experience and reliability in high-quality RI supply, is highly significant. Leveraging our proactively established global partnerships and diversified supply chain, we will actively pursue the global anticancer drug market."

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