PET Radiopharmaceutical Business (eBook)

The book tells the reader how a niche business can develop in a complex context and a peculiar market, such as that of PET radiopharmaceuticals. The narrative gathers three different views, and allows the reader to focus on multiple aspects that may remain hidden at the beginning of a PET radiotracer project. Nevertheless, many of the considerations in the book may be useful to approach other emerging high-tech fields of biomarkers and health indicators. The successful implementation of the Quality Assurance system is a key point of a PET organization, as well as skill identification and the selection of personnel in operational and managerial duties.  The development of a GMP PET manufacturing site inside a public organization from an in-house hospital radiopharmacy and the hurdles to face and become a third party site in a public-private cooperation, are detailed and commented. Finally, the book discusses how a PET site can achieve great results despite limited resources, and what are the key strategies to choose and develop new radiotracers or ensure coexistence of multiple tracers on the market. Globally, the book provides 'food for thought' and  may be a valuable tool for professionals in the radiopharmaceuticals industry and managers at universities or hospital willing to develop a GMP PET Production site.

Dr. Pecorale is an accomplished professional in the field of radiopharmaceutical technologies, where he is operating since 1994 (SPECT and PET productions). He obtained his Master's Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the University of Padua in 1993, with a thesis focusing on radiopharmacy. As a member of the Italian Pharmacist Association, he is a registered pharmacist.

Currently, he holds a position at GE HealthCare, where he serves as the PET Manufacturing Manager for Drug Product in Europe. In this capacity, he is responsible for managing a network of PET third-party sites across Europe that produce PET products for neurological, cardiac, and oncological diseases. His role involves ensuring the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing processes within this network.

Dr. Pecorale is also recognized as an author, having published the book 'Essence of the PET Radiopharmaceutical Business, A Practical Guide' with Springer in 2022.

Dr. Inzerillo pursued a career dedicated to quality assurance in the radiopharmaceutical industry. She obtained a Master's Degree in Biology from the University of Turin in 1984, laying the foundation for her future endeavors. Until her retirement in 2020, she was an esteemed employee of General Electric (GE) in the Healthcare division, where she served as a Quality Assurance Manager.

Her responsibilities in Quality Assurance encompassed PET and SPECT ready-to-use tracers, cold kits, generators, and contrast media. She played a vital role in developing the annual quality planning, coordinating quality projects, establishing standard operating procedures, and designing training plans extended also to CMOs sites. She was also responsible for validation activities and auditing to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Dr. Inzerillo was one of the first quality assurance specialists in Italy to handle the conversion of radiopharmaceuticals into drugs, since 1993.

Dr. Salvadori graduated in chemistry and specialized in nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry. He began his career in 1980 at the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa, where he started the first PET/Cyclotron Centre in Italy. In 2006, he obtained the GMP certification of the site and established an industrial partnership for PET radiotracer manufacturing, becoming the qualified person and the manager of the GMP site. During about 40 years of practice, Dr. Salvadori has gained considerable experience in radiopharmacy and radiopharmaceutical chemistry, with contributions to International conferences, Scientific and Professional Societies, Committees, and Institutional Bodies. He was an expert of the European Pharmacopoeia, and the IAEA. Dr. Salvadori has been active in teaching since 1982. He has published more than 200 scientific papers (peer-reviewed) in the field of Radiopharmacy and Nuclear Medicine, and many book chapters, opinion papers, reviews, state-of-the art articles, and press releases.