Strategic partnership forms bridge between isotope expertise and peptide innovation
In a significant development for radiopharmaceutical advancement, isotope technology provider Eckert & Ziegler has established a comprehensive partnership with Bicycle Therapeutics to supply radioisotopes and manufacture novel bicyclic peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for upcoming clinical trials.
Partnership combines complementary expertise in emerging therapeutic field
The newly announced strategic alliance between Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler SE and Bicycle Therapeutics represents a significant integration of radioisotope manufacturing capabilities with innovative peptide technology. The collaboration, revealed on 27 February 2025, centres on the development and manufacture of Bicycle Radio Conjugates (BRC molecules) – radiopharmaceutical compounds based on Bicycle Therapeutics’ proprietary bicyclic peptide technology.
This partnership leverages Eckert & Ziegler’s established position as a leading provider of isotope technology for medical applications alongside Bicycle Therapeutics’ novel therapeutic approach. As a TecDAX-listed company with over 1,000 employees, Eckert & Ziegler brings considerable manufacturing infrastructure to the collaboration, including its GMP-compliant facilities in Berlin that will serve as the production hub for the radiopharmaceutical molecules.
Technical foundations of the therapeutic approach
The collaborative effort focuses on Bicycle Therapeutics’ distinctive molecular platform. These bicyclic peptides are characterised by their compact dimensions and unique structural properties, engineered specifically for precise targeting capabilities. The molecules are designed to overcome limitations of conventional therapeutic approaches by accessing previously unreachable biological targets.
What distinguishes these BRC molecules is their capacity to selectively deliver radioisotope payloads to specific disease sites. This precision targeting mechanism represents a significant technical advantage in developing treatments for conditions with substantial unmet medical needs.
Dr. Harald Hasselmann, CEO of Eckert & Ziegler, emphasised the strategic significance of the partnership: “We are delighted to enter into such a comprehensive partnership with Bicycle Therapeutics, whose innovative science is being used to develop promising radiopharmaceutical molecules. Together, we aim to advance the future of radiopharmaceuticals by combining our CDMO and isotopes expertise with Bicycle Therapeutics’ cutting-edge technology.”
Manufacturing infrastructure and clinical development timeline
The agreement positions Eckert & Ziegler as both supplier of various radioisotopes and contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for Bicycle Therapeutics’ radiopharmaceutical compounds. This dual role leverages Eckert & Ziegler’s established radiopharmaceutical production infrastructure and regulatory expertise.
Mike Hannay, Chief Product and Supply Chain Officer at Bicycle Therapeutics, highlighted the manufacturing considerations that influenced their partner selection: “With Eckert & Ziegler, we have found a leading and reliable industry partner with extensive expertise in the development and GMP-compliant manufacturing of radiopharmaceuticals. Eckert & Ziegler’s advanced capabilities and global reach make them the ideal partner to manufacture BRC molecules as we plan to initiate our first radiopharmaceutical clinical trial next year.”
The timeframe outlined in the announcement suggests that clinical evaluation of these radiopharmaceutical compounds should commence in 2026, marking a crucial transition from preclinical development to human studies for Bicycle Therapeutics’ radiopharmaceutical portfolio.
Market positioning and therapeutic potential
This partnership emerges against the backdrop of growing interest in targeted radiopharmaceuticals across the biopharmaceutical sector. For Bicycle Therapeutics, a NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company, this collaboration represents a significant step in translating their proprietary technology platform into clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical candidates.
The bicyclic peptide technology underlying these radiopharmaceuticals offers potential advantages over antibody-based approaches, including superior tissue penetration due to smaller molecular size, potentially reduced immunogenicity, and manufacturing efficiencies.
For Eckert & Ziegler, this agreement strengthens their position in the radiopharmaceutical contract manufacturing space, expanding their portfolio beyond their established services in isotope-related components for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.
The partnership demonstrates how collaborative approaches between technology platforms and manufacturing specialists can accelerate development timelines in specialised therapeutic areas such as radiopharmaceuticals, where both molecular targeting and radioisotope expertise are essential for successful product development.
