DuChemBio Co., Ltd. (DCB), a leading radio-pharmaceutical company in Korea, and Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd. (NMP), a leading radiopharmaceutical company in Japan, recently announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to develop, register and commercialize anti-1-amino-3-18F-fluorocyclo-butane-1-carboxylic acid (FACBC) in Korea.  FACBC is a radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of recurrent prostate cancer.

FACBC has been granted marketing authorizations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in EU for imaging of men with suspected prostate cancer recurrence. Prostate cancer patients whose blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) indicate that the cancer may have returned after the initial treatment, such as prostatectomy, usually undergo conventional imaging tests (e.g. CT, MRI, bone scintigraphy). However, the chances to find recurrent cancer lesions in such patients using conventional imaging are relatively low. FACBC-enhanced PET imaging is a proven diagnostic tool for highly optimal management of patients with suspected prostate cancer recurrence.

Full press release

During the 2018 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in Philadelphia, representatives of Asan Medical Center, DuChemBio Co., Ltd. and BGM Associates GmbH inked a Licensing Consortium Agreement for the international partnering of the molecular imaging compound – [18F]-fluoroestradiol (FES). [18F]FES is a fluorine-18 labelled radiopharmaceutical used for the imaging of breast cancer patients with positron emission tomography (PET) cameras.
 
Asan Medical Center, one of the leading research hospitals in Asia-Pacific region, has recently finalized its phase III trial in Korea and is now seeking regulatory approval for the [18F]FES from Korean Health Authorities.
 
DuChemBio, the leading radiopharmaceutical company in Korea, alongside BGM Associates are now in charge of the international partnering and development of the breast cancer radiopharmaceutical.

With the support of BGM Associates, ASAN Medical Center (AMC) – one of the leading hospitals in Seoul, South Korea – has entered into a Research and Development Collaboration Agreement with Piramal Imaging S.A.. The parties plan to conduct clinical studies at AMC with the intent of gaining regulatory approval for commercialization of innovative molecular tracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in South Korea.

The collaboration comprises novel molecular tracers for oncology, neurology and cardiovascular applications, including, for instance, imaging agents for the detection and quantification of tau tangles in the brain and thrombi in the vascular system.

Both parties intend to jointly assign a future commercial partner for the production, supply and the marketing of the 18F-based tracers in South Korea.
 
Official press release

​BGM Associates has assisted DuChemBio Co. Ltd. and Accera, Inc. to bring the proprietary medium chain triglyceride (MCT) technology to South Korea.

Accera, a leading CNS therapeutic company is focused on pioneering novel therapeutic approaches to treat neurodegenerative diseases caused by metabolic deficiencies, such as regional decreases in cerebral glucose metabolism associated with Alzheimer’s disease (see illustration). Accera’s proprietary MCT technology addresses this issue by providing the brain with ketone bodies, a natural alternative fuel to glucose.

DuChemBio has been active in the field of neurodegenerative diseases since 2012, primarily through commercializing nuclear medicine biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. BGM Associates is supporting DuChemBio in its endeavor to fully develop and commercialize Accera’s technology.

​Link to press release

With the support of BGM Associates, DuChemBio Co. Ltd. – the leading radiopharmaceutical company in South Korea – has entered into a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with Cyclotek for Australian and New Zealand markets. The agreement will provide Cyclotek with exclusive rights to commercialize Parkinson’s disease diagnostic tracer - [18F]FP-CIT.

[18F]FP-CIT is a radio-pharmaceutical tracer developed by nuclear medicine team at Asan Medical Center – one of the largest hospitals in South Korea. The tracer is intended for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of patients being evaluated for uncertain Parkinsonian syndrome. The product is an alternative to GE Healthcare’s DaTscan, and offers a clinical advantage over GE’s product thanks to the different imaging modality – PET instead of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).
​
The agreement serves as the first step for DuChemBio and AMC to bring the proprietary tracer to the global markets with the support of BGM Associates.

Link to Asan Medical Center’s official announcement (in Korean)

Two years after BGM Associates accompanied the German flow cytometry specialist Partec GmbH in its sale to Symex Corporation of Japan the former owner family Göhde draws positive conclusions. The double digit sales growth in the first full year after the integration reflects the perfect strategic fit of the two companies, a major investment leads to the creation of a large number of jobs in Germany, and the integration process is well underway. The success of the transaction is based on Partec's excellent technology and products, an outstanding strategic and good cultural fit, and the well prepared and executed partner search and transaction process. A short report on the transaction is available in a Special of 'Transkript' on 'The Best Deals'. A German version of the report can be found here.

BGM Associates has advised the owner family of PARTEC, Germany’s leading flow cytometry specialist, in the search for a strategic partner and in the eventual company sale to Sysmex Corporation, Japan. With its global sales and service organization, Sysmex provides a platform for expanding Partec’s business into the large market segment of clinical flow cytometry testing. In addition, Partec’s expertise and technology in the field of flow cytometry are highly synergistic to Sysmex’ hematology business and will substantially strengthen Sysmex’ already leading position in the market.