Bayer Appoints Cardinal Health as U.S. Based Contract Manufacturer for Xofigo (Radium Ra 223 Dichloride) Injection

Bayer HealthCare and Cardinal Health have announced the signing of a 15-year agreement for the contract manufacturing of Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride). As part of the agreement, Cardinal Health will build a state-of-the art, 64,000 sq ft facility in Indianapolis, which will be dedicated exclusively to the manufacturing of Xofigo. Product manufactured at this facility will primarily be distributed in the US and Canada.

The manufacturing facility will be built near and leverage the capabilities and talent of Cardinal Health's existing Indianapolis radiopharmacy, which is one of the two US locations authorized by Bayer HealthCare to distribute Xofigo. Cardinal Health is the sole distributor of Xofigo in the US.

Xofigo is an alpha-particle-emitting radioactive therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastatic disease. Bayer HealthCare is developing and marketing Xofigo worldwide. The current manufacturing site in Norway will continue to be responsible for global supply of the product.

"This new agreement presents us with an excellent opportunity to leverage our unmatched expertise in the nuclear pharmacy industry to expand access to a therapeutic agent," said Tiffany Olson, president of Cardinal Health's Nuclear Pharmacy Services business. "We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Bayer HealthCare, and to developing innovative services to expand the use of radiopharmaceuticals in the US and Canada."

Bayer had started the preparations for a second manufacturing site soon after the first marketing authorization for Xofigo was obtained in May 2013. The new Cardinal Health manufacturing facility, slated for completion in 2017, will be built and equipped for the unique manufacturing needs of Xofigo. It will be supported by approximately 85 employees, including specialized manufacturing roles, chemists, engineers and other professional positions.

"Cardinal Health has played a pivotal role in distributing Xofigo to medical facilities since the product's launch in the US in May 2013," said Shannon Campbell, vice president and general manager of oncology, Bayer HealthCare. "Cardinal Health's proven track record in radiopharmaceuticals and their experience with Xofigo make them a formidable choice for helping to expand our manufacturing capabilities in North America.  We're pleased to take this important step forward alongside Cardinal Health."