International Isotopes wins Imagyn deal

Nuclear medicine start-up International Isotopes has won a major contract that will help the company in its quest to become a supplier of medical radioisotopes (SCAN 9/3/97). The company has signed a deal to provide its radioactive seeds to Imagyn Medical Technologies, which will have exclusive worldwide rights to market the seeds for brachytherapy prostate cancer treatment, according to Newport Beach, CA-based Imagyn.

International Isotopes, of Denton, TX, will develop and manufacture the radioactive seeds for distribution through Imagyn's direct sales force. Imagyn will pay International Isotopes $1 million to develop the seeds and has agreed to purchase seeds for three years. Imagyn anticipates that it will file a 510(k) application for the company's initial brachytherapy product, iodine-125, with the Food and Drug Administration by March 31.

In other Imagyn news, the company has announced that it will close its Laguna Niguel, CA, plant and move its endoscope manufacturing facility to Costa Mesa, CA. As part of its consolidation, the firm is reducing its work force by about 120 people.