[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] DuChemBio Co.,LTD.(176750)has begun purchasing land to build a radiopharmaceutical production facility in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province.

DuChemBio Co, LTD announced on the 28th that it will purchase land worth 767.8 million won to build a new production facility in Jeongeup. This land acquisition is a follow-up to the investment plan for a new facility totaling 34.329 billion won, which was announced last September. The cost of the land purchase is included in the total investment amount.

Previously, DuChemBio Co, LTD signed an investment agreement with Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, Jeongeup City, and the Jeonbuk Research and Development Special Zone Headquarters to establish radiopharmaceutical production and research and development (R&D) facilities. The company plans to gradually develop a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) facility for radiopharmaceuticals, R&D facilities, and manufacturing facilities for radioisotopes and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at the Jeongeup High-Tech Science Industrial Complex.

The new facilities will establish a production base for radiopharmaceuticals used in the diagnosis of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as radioligand therapies (RPT). Due to the half-life of radioactive isotopes, it is critical that radiopharmaceuticals be transported rapidly from the production site to medical institutions after manufacture. DuChemBio Co, LTD plans to strengthen its supply capacity to medical institutions in the Honam and Chungcheong regions through the Jeongeup facility.

This investment also includes expanding production capacity for radiopharmaceuticals used in dementia diagnosis in preparation for the domestic launch of the Alzheimer’s disease treatment “Kisunra” (active ingredient: donanemab). To administer anti-amyloid therapies such as Kisunra, it is necessary to confirm whether amyloid-beta protein has accumulated in the patient’s brain. One of the diagnostic methods for this is amyloid positron emission tomography (PET).

In particular, since treatment with Kisunra may be discontinued based on the level of amyloid accumulation during therapy, there is a possibility of additional demand for PET scans during the treatment process. In response, DuChemBio Co, LTD plans to expand its production capacity for the diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals “NeuraCheck” and “Vizamil.”

DuChemBio Co, LTD plans to sequentially proceed with the construction of its Jeongeup facility to expand its supply chain for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals while simultaneously laying the groundwork for new business ventures, including therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

DuChemBio Co, LTD official stated, “This land acquisition is part of the process of concretely implementing the previously announced investment in a new facility in Jeongeup,” adding, “We will proceed with the construction of the new facility without delay to expand the stable production and supply base for radiopharmaceuticals and secure the capacity to respond to new business opportunities, including therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, in the future.”