MDS Nordion Opens New Radiopharmaceutical Production Facility in Belgium

    Site to Provide Glucotrace (Fluorodeoxyglucose) for Use in Earlier
    Detection of Disease and Therapy Management

OTTAWA and FLEURUS, Belgium, May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - MDS Nordion, a leading global provider of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular medicine, today announced the opening of a facility in Fleurus, Belgium for the production of Glucotrace (Fluorodeoxyglucose), a radiopharmaceutical used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

PET imaging produces a three-dimensional image, or picture, of functional processes in the body, such as brain activity, and is a highly accurate and effective method of diagnosing disease and managing patient therapy. MDS Nordion's new facility will provide timely supply of Glucotrace to hospitals throughout Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.

"Customers count on MDS Nordion for leadership, quality products and customized services," said Steve West, President MDS Nordion. "Our investment in this facility further demonstrates our commitment to address the growing demand for PET diagnostic imaging in targeted European regions, and provides the medical community greater service for their future patient care."

The PET imaging market is the most rapidly growing area of nuclear medicine and procedures. Statistics from a recent Medical Options survey indicates PET examinations are on a rapid rise in Europe, and are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 20% through 2012. To help meet increasing demand, this state-of-the-art, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production facility will have three daily production runs and a customer service team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"PET imaging is effective because it allows early detection of tumours, as well as assessment of therapeutic strategies," said Professor Roland Hustinx, Nuclear Medicine Department, CHU - Universite de Liege. "In particular, MDS Nordion's new facility will provide another source of supply of Glucotrace to existing and new medical facilities, thereby increasing the ability of health-care practitioners to conduct this critical type of imaging."

About MDS Nordion

MDS Nordion, a business unit of MDS Inc., is a global leader in providing medical isotopes for molecular and diagnostic imaging, radiotherapeutics and sterilization technologies for medical products that benefit the lives of millions of people in more than 50 countries around the world. MDS Nordion's products and services are used on a daily basis by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Find out more at www.mdsnordion.com.

About MDS

MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than 5,000 highly skilled people in 29 countries. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com.

SOURCE MDS Nordion