GE Healthcare and Lantheus Medical Imaging have proposed a global deal for a continuation of the phase 3 development and global commercialization of Lantheus’s flurpiridaz F 18, a positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) agent for diagnosing coronary artery disease.

The deal would allow GE Healthcare to take over all funding for the program, which includes a second phase 3 study and global commercialization. If the deal is settled, Lantheus will receive $5 million upfront, with a possibility of an additional $60 million in regulatory and sales milestones, plus royalties. The subsidiary of Lantheus Holdings would also be given the option to co-promote the imaging agent in the U.S.

“We are excited about the prospect of GE Healthcare being our global partner to complete the development of flurpiridaz F 18 and bring this next-generation agent to market, as they touch every level of the PET diagnostic delivery continuum and share our commitment to serving the nuclear medicine community,” stated Mary Anne Heino, president and CEO at Lantheus in a statement. “The collaboration would enable us to participate in the long-term economic success of flurpiridaz F 18. Lantheus will also continue to advance our other pipeline assets and pursue additional near-term business development opportunities to drive growth.”

Flurpiridaz F 18 is Lantheus Medical Imaging’s lead agent. When used in a first Phase III study, this imaging agent resulted in better coronary artery disease detection and lower radiation exposure, as opposed to the standard single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).