Blue Earth Diagnostics, a leading molecular imaging diagnostics company, today announced that the first commercial production of Axumin® (fluciclovine (18F)) in Italy occurred recently, with the first Italian patients being dosed. Axumin is a novel molecular imaging agent approved in the European Union for use in PET imaging to detect and localize prostate cancer in men experiencing suspected recurrence based on elevated blood prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels after primary curative treatment.
Axumin is the first and only PET imaging agent approved by the European Commission for use in men with suspected recurrent prostate cancer in all European Union member states as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Axumin is commercially available in Italy, France, Norway, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Austria with further European countries set to follow soon.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men. While most primary prostate cancer can be successfully treated, recurrence occurs in up to one-third of patients. Recurrent disease is typically detected by a rise in PSA levels but often the location and extent of the disease cannot be detected by conventional imaging. Of those who suffer biochemical recurrence, approximately one-third develop metastatic prostate cancer. Axumin was developed to target the increased amino acid transport that occurs in many cancers, including prostate cancer. It is labelled with the radioisotope (18F), enabling it to be visualized in the body with PET imaging.
Dr. Jonathan Allis, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Earth Diagnostics said, “Detection and localization of recurrent prostate cancer is a significant unmet medical need, and Blue Earth is committed to maximizing access to Axumin to clinicians and their patients across Europe. Today’s announcement is key milestone towards our goal.”