Lantheus Medical Imaging has entered into a new strategic agreement with the National Institute for Radioelements (IRE) in Fleurus, Belgium, for a future supply of xenon-133 gas.
IRE will provide xenon-133 in bulk to Lantheus for processing and finishing, the company said. Lantheus must still complete development work and receive all necessary regulatory approvals. Commercial production could begin next year, according to Lantheus.
Lantheus is currently the only U.S. manufacturer of xenon-133, an inhaled radiopharmaceutical imaging agent used to evaluate pulmonary function, image the lungs, and assess cerebral blood flow.