The venture b.e. imaging GmbH, part of the Bender Gruppe GmbH, located in Baden-Baden, Germany, and SPL Medical B.V., located in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, have signed today an exclusive License and Distribution Agreement for the marketing of Combidex® (Ferumoxtran-10), a contrast-agent for the detection of cancer metastasis in the lymph nodes using MR imaging, in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition b.e. imaging will invest in SPL Medical and will become a shareholder of the Dutch company from today, alongside the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc).
SPL Medical, which has been incorporated in August 2015 as a spin-off of the Radboudumc in Nijmegen, is devoted to increase the accuracy of cancer diagnostics. Its product, Combidex®, together with MR imaging, can detect cancer metastases in the lymph nodes even of 2mm in size. This means that such cancer metastases can be detected much earlier and that the requisite therapy can be much more precise and increases patients’ quality of life significantly. This saves lives and reduces treatment costs. One of SPL Medical’s milestones is to start the registration process of Combidex® in Europe and other key regions at the beginning of 2017.
“We are very excited and fortunate to have such a promising collaboration with b.e. imaging. b.e. imaging has many years of experience in the distribution and marketing of special products for the Radiology and Urology market in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Their knowledge of the contrast-media market and their strong commercial capabilities will strength SPL Medical and will further support its efforts to bring Combidex® to patients as soon as possible”, says Mr. Ari Aminetzah, CEO of SPL Medical.
“We at the Bender Group are convinced that we have found with SPL an ideal partner to complete successfully the developing process of Ferumoxtran-10. This substance will help to improve oncological MRI-diagnostics. As a manufacturer of generic but also highly innovative contrast media, we will continuously broaden our portfolio with products and solutions dedicated to fulfil our customers’ needs to improve efficiency and patient care. Just with our first proprietary innovation product, LumiVision® – Der LiquidKontrast (the only commercially available oral MR product for MRCP and abdominal imaging), we are eager to bring innovation and improved care to our clients with Ferumoxtran-10”, says Dr. Jürgen Feuerstein, Managing Director of b.e. imaging.
“The collaboration between b.e. imaging and SPL Medical is a great example for the efforts that the Radboudumc is deploying to bring its innovative technology to patients through spin-off ventures that, in turn, interact and collaborate with other corporations and research institutes worldwide. The aim of the Radboudumc is to have a significant impact on health care. We do it in many ways. SPL Medical is a great example of how a diagnostic solution with a high value for cancer patients can find its way to the global market”, says Dr. Dirkjan Masman, Chairman of the Board of SPL Medical and the Director of the Valorization Department at the Radboudumc.
