Petnet Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Knoxville, Tenn.-based maker of radioactive drugs used in cancer detection, has awarded Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, a $1.2 million contract to construct a production facility at the Spokane International Airport Business Park.


Garco began construction of the 4,000-square-foot building, at 7011 Flightline, two weeks ago and should complete it by mid-November, says Richard Dill, Petnets senior project manager. Campo Architects, of New Orleans, designed the building.


At the facility here, Petnet will produce radio isotopes used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which medical facilities employ to diagnose cancer, Dill says. Petnet operates 40 production facilities throughout the U.S., he says.


Opening a Petnet production center in the Spokane area will eliminate the need to ship the companys products here by air from Seattle, which will be more cost effective and allow the company to avoid shipment delays due to weather-related problems, Dill says. The building here also will help Petnet fulfill its plan to position its facilities within four hours transportation time from one another, he says.


The Petnet facilities closest to Spokane are located in Kent, Wash., Portland, and Denver, he says.


From the facility here, Petnet also will ship its products to clients in Boise, Missoula, and other Inland Northwest cities where PET scans are performed, Dill says.


Petnet employs three people here now, and might hire two more after the building is constructed, he says.