Korean radiopharma firm DuChemBio said Thursday that it has signed an exclusive licensing deal with Taiwan’s PET Pharm Biotech (PPhBio) to bring its Parkinson’s disease imaging agent 18F-FP-CIT to the Taiwanese market.

The compound, 18F-FP-CIT, is a PET imaging agent designed to measure dopamine transporter (DAT) density in the brain’s striatum—key for early-stage Parkinson’s diagnosis. DuChemBio says the agent boasts higher binding specificity and sharper contrast than conventional scans, making it possible to detect subtle changes in the nigrostriatal pathway before symptoms emerge.

Under the terms of the agreement, PPhBio will take full charge of local development, including clinical trials, regulatory submissions, GMP manufacturing, and commercialization. DuChemBio will supply precursors, cold kits and cassettes, while supporting tech transfer and training.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Thursday’s release, Taiwan’s diagnosed Parkinson’s population reached 77,428 in 2021, with more than 11,000 new patients added annually. DuChemBio projects the figure will surpass 100,000 by this year.

In Korea, over 125,000 doses of 18F-FP-CIT have been used in clinical settings. A post-marketing surveillance study involving 3,000 patients backed its safety and accuracy, according to the company. DuChemBio said it is now considered the diagnostic imaging standard for Parkinson’s in the domestic market.

The Taiwanese rollout will rely on PPhBio’s PIC/S GMP-certified facility in Taipei and its national distribution network. Production will start immediately following Taiwan FDA approval, DuChemBio said.