On 27 November 2009, PETNET Solutions shipped its first commercial batch of F18 to the Radiopharmaceutical Research Institute (RRI). The Institute is dedicated to the development of both imaging and treatment radiopharmaceuticals and provides unique radionuclides for the clinical and research communities.
The staff at the PETNET Solutions facility were ecstatic at the culmination of a full year’s work in preparation of this day. “This marks the beginning of our journey towards becoming the trusted supplier of fluorine 18 based radiopharmaceuticals in Australia,” said PETNET Solutions General Manager John Hodder.
According to John, while the first shipment was appropriately small and was destined for the research community and not for human use, it was no less significant. “We were able to produce the right goods at the right time with completed quality control and batch analysis,” explained John.
Dr Ron Weiner, Head, RRI was pleased to have a local supplier of FDG, in particular from an ANSTO partner. “It is important for our organisation to have a local supplier of FDG. The alternative in the past has been to ship the radiopharmaceutical from Melbourne as there was no commercial operation in Sydney,” he said.
Dr Weiner explained, the batch of FDG was used for a collaborative project undertaken with the Cancer Pharmacology Unit, ANZAC Research Unit at Concord Hospital. The project uses FDG to perform in vivo PET imaging in tumour-bearing mice to monitor the uptake of glucose into highly metabolic tissues as a way of investigating whether an imbalance in nutrient distribution contributes to the muscle weakness and loss of condition associated with cancer.
“I really appreciate PETNET Solutions being able to supply the FDG for our research as it makes possible experiments and analysis that enhances our understanding of these processes in tumour-bearing mice, and which may ultimately, be of considerable benefit to cancer patients,” said Assoc. Prof. Graham Robertson, Cancer Pharmacology Unit, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney at Concord RG Hospital
And so, PETNET Solutions is finally open for business. “We always wanted to end the year on a high note, and this is it,” said John Hodder.