Eckert & Ziegler to join Chinese-German Pharma Development Joint Venture

Press release

Eckert & Ziegler to join Chinese-German Pharma Development Joint Venture

Berlin, July 22, 2013. Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler AG by its subsidiary Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma GmbH will acquire a minority interest in OctreoPharm Sciences GmbH, a company specialized in radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine. OctreoPharm Sciences focuses on the clinical development of new types of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostics and treatment in the field of oncology.

OctreoPharm Sciences has various peptides currently in pre-clinical development as a potential solution for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors using positron emission tomography (PET). Depending on the radionuclide it is coupled with, it could be used both in diagnosing (gallium-68) and treating (yttrium-90) such tumors. Clinical testing on humans (phase I) is slated to begin towards the end of next year.

The global market volume for medicinal products for the diagnosis and radiopharmaceutical treatment of neuroendocrine tumors is estimated at more than EUR250 million per year. Neuroendocrine tumors are usually malignant tumors affecting glandular cells in the lung and digestive system that metastasize early.

In addition to Eckert & Ziegler AG, several Venture Capital Companies, a number of industry experts and Chinese investor Shaanxi Xinyida Investment Co. Ltd. also hold a stake in OctreoPharm Sciences, the investment totaling in the double-digit millions.

With more than 600 employees, Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) is one of the world's largest providers of components based on isotope technology for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Eckert & Ziegler AG, Karolin Riehle, Investor Relations
Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 94 10 84-138, karolin.riehle@ezag.de, www.ezag.de