President of DRAXIS Radiopharmaceuticals Division Establishes Strategies for Long Term Growth

/Home/Press Releases - Lyophilization

Product Pipeline Update
The planned clinical development program for the commercialization of INFECTON? is moving forward on schedule. INFECTON? is believed to be a promising agent for the detection and localization of sites of infection within the body. Four Phase II clinical trials are being conducted at clinical sites in the United States and Canada. Patient enrolment has been completed in one of these trials and is nearing completion in two others. Enrollment has also begun in an additional trial examining patients with equivocal appendicitis. Studies to define target market populations and appropriate clinical applications are underway and are expected to be completed in time to guide the design of Phase III studies, which are expected to begin in 2006. An expert panel is being assembled to review clinical results as they are assessed and analyzed, to review potential target markets, and to advise on the design of Phase III studies and appropriate indications. DRAXIMAGE has identified INFECTON? as a major opportunity for the business in the mid-to-long term and is currently assessing the amount and type of resources needed to accelerate its development.
An expert medical panel was recently assembled to assess the results of clinical testing performed to date with FIBRIMAGE? in conjunction with market related information derived from two market studies that have been conducted recently. This expert clinical panel is chaired by Dr. Bruce Davidson, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the Swedish Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Dr. Davidson is an internationally known researcher and clinician with direct experience in the diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism.
The members of the expert panel include:
Dr. Charles G. Elliott, MD, MACP FCCP, Professor of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Elliott is the Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy and Chief of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Dr. Elliott is a recognized authority in the field of venous thromboembolism, as both a clinician and a researcher.
Dr. David Lewis, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, University of Washington Medical School and Director of Nuclear Medicine at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Lewis has extensive clinical experience in Nuclear Medicine plus research expertise in cerebral vascular disease.
Dr. Heyu Ni, MD, PhD, Research Scientist at St. Michael?s Hospital in Toronto and Associate Scientist at the Canadian Blood Services. Dr. Ni is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto and is an internationally recognized expert in thrombotic activity and thrombus formation, particularly at the molecular level.
The report and recommendations of this expert panel will be used to assess the strategy for further development of FIBRIMAGE? as an agent to satisfy unmet medical needs for the detection and diagnosis of active thrombotic activity in clinically significant situations such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and other conditions.

About DRAXMAGE Inc.
DRAXIMAGE develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the global marketplace. Products currently include a line of lyophilized technetium-99m kits used in nuclear imaging procedures and therapeutic products labeled with a variety of isotopes including radioiodine.
About DRAXIS Health Inc.
DRAXIS Health, through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, DRAXIS Specialty Pharmaceuticals Inc., provides products in three categories. Sterile products include liquid and freeze-dried (lyophilized) injectables plus sterile ointments and creams. Non-sterile products are produced as solid oral and semi-solid dosage forms. Radiopharmaceuticals are used for both therapeutic and diagnostic molecular imaging applications. Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing services are provided through the DRAXIS Pharma division and radiopharmaceuticals are developed, produced, and sold through the DRAXIMAGE division. DRAXIS Specialty Pharmaceuticals Inc. employs over 500 staff in its Montreal facility.