Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited opened Telix Manufacturing Solutions, the company’s radiopharmaceutical production facility located in Belgium.
The 2,800 square meter facility is one of Europe’s largest radiopharmaceutical production facilities, according to the company. It will serve as Telix’s primary manufacturing site for radioisotopes and commercial and clinical products for patients in the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and beyond.
Telix acquired the 35,000 square meter site in April 2020. After extensive redevelopment, which included the decommissioning and safe removal of two cyclotrons, the facility was granted a renewed license for the production of an extensive list of radioisotopes required for the company’s research, development, commercial and clinical activities.
“Sites such as Telix Manufacturing Solutions in Brussels South are a rarity. There are very few places in the world where a site of this scale could be constructed and secure a license to produce the array of isotopes that our license allows,” said Christian Behrenbruch, Group Managing Director and CEO of Telix.
The first stage of the buildout included installation of nine GMP manufacturing lines, two research and development labs, quality control labs and warehousing space with capacity to support Telix’s operations. One of the first GMP lines will be dedicated for the use of industry and research partners and collaborators.
The company is also preparing to install the first of two planned cyclotrons for the site. The Wallonia regional government provided grant funding and the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) provided access to financing solutions, in addition to the company’s own funding, to support first stage buildout works.
“Belgium’s ‘Radiopharma Valley’ is a fundamental part of Telix’s innovation success – in fact, the technology that underpins our first commercial product was invented in Belgium,” said Ortiz. “It is our vision that this facility, will not only exist for Telix but operate as a hub for research, development and manufacturing for our partners and collaborators across industry, academia, and clinical practice. We are very grateful for the support of the Walloon regional government and AWEX and hope that this facility will contribute to the ongoing growth of our industry and drive further investment in the region.”
Telix currently employs 32 people in Belgium. The company said that this number is expected to grow significantly as the commercial activity develops.