Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Strengthens Scientific Team by Adding Dr. Brian Mueller as Director of Chemistry and Secures Exclusive Ownership of Iodine Extraction Technology

Core Insights - Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has secured 100% ownership of an innovative iodine extraction technology, the "Mueller Process," developed by Dr. Brian Mueller, who has been appointed as the Company's Director of Chemistry [1][2][4] Company Developments - The acquisition of the Mueller Process is expected to enhance cost efficiency, operational flexibility, and long-term supply-chain security for Voyageur's iodine extraction projects [2] - The Company has made an initial cash payment for the acquisition and will pay Dr. Mueller a running royalty on net sales of iodine products [2] - Voyageur plans to submit full utility patent applications for the acquired intellectual property in 2026, following provisional patent applications filed in 2025 [4] Technology and Process - Initial testing of the Mueller Process has shown a 90% yield from incoming brine to technical grade iodine (85% pure), with conversion to 99.5% pure iodine [6] - The process is environmentally friendly, producing a "clean brine" that can be used for various industrial applications [6] - The Streamlined API process aims to simplify the production of iodine contrast drugs by extracting directly from brine water, potentially allowing Voyageur to become the first U.S. company to produce iodine drugs domestically [4][9] Market Context - The global contrast media market is projected to grow from USD 6.77 billion in 2024 to USD 13.86 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 8.3% from 2025 to 2033 [5] - North America accounts for approximately 39.07% of the global iodine contrast media market, valued at around USD 2.65 billion annually [5] Strategic Vision - Voyageur aims to become a vertically integrated leader in the radiology contrast media drug market by controlling all primary input costs and enhancing quality and cost efficiency [16][17] - The Company is focused on producing high-quality, cost-effective imaging contrast agents and plans to transition into a high-margin domestic manufacturer of radiology drugs [14][13]