Targeson

Dr. Joshua Rychak was invited to present a lecture on the technology of targeted ultrasound molecular imaging at the Moores Cancer Center, San Diego in conjunction with the Center’s In vivo Cancer and Molecular Imaging Center (ICMIC) Working Conference. Dr. Rychak’s presentation reviewed the microbubble technology that supports Targeson’s ultrasound agent products and discussed the techniques and procedures for targeted ultrasound imaging of tumor angiogenesis. An excerpt of the lecture slides can be viewed below.

Dr. Rychak is the Vice President of Research and Development for Targeson Inc. Targeson is pleased to present this information for you and we welcome your comments.

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San Diego, CA – December 15, 2009 – Targeson Inc. (www.targeson.com) announced that it has moved its research and manufacturing facilities to San Diego. Targeson develops, manufactures, and markets ultrasound molecular imaging agents for research applications, enabling researchers to characterize diseases at the molecular level using portable and cost-efficient ultrasound imaging. Contrast ultrasound imaging is emerging as an effective imaging technique in basic science and the drug discovery process. This imaging method is highly specific, portable, and permits anatomical and functional imaging in real time. Targeted molecular imaging provides a convenient and noninvasive technique for characterizing biological processes in vivo and monitoring responses to therapeutic interventions.

Targeson’s commercial product line currently includes Targestar^TM-P, a non-targeted ultrasound contrast agent designed to enhance contrast in the vasculature and can be used to image and quantify blood flow and vascular function. Targestar SA, a targetable ultrasound contrast agent coated with streptavidin, enables conjugation of a vast array of targeting ligands by the user quickly and conveniently in one step. This agent can be used for diverse molecular imaging applications including tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic plaque, thrombosis, organ transplant rejection, and inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory disorders.

Vivistar^TM Integrin is the next generation contrast agent for imaging angiogenesis. Visistar Integrin is a ready-to-use agent consisting of microbubbles coated with a specific ligand that selectively binds Alpha_vBeta₃ integrin on endothelial surfaces. Alpha_vBeta₃ integrin is a well-recognized biomarker of angiogenesis expressed on activated endothelial cells.

For further information please contact 877-290-4043 or products@targeson.com

Targestar and Visistar are pending trademarks of Targeson Inc.

La Jolla, CA – August 17, 2009 – Targeson announced the introduction of VisistarTM Integrin, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent for use in preclinical drug discovery and basic science research. Vivistar Integrin is a novel microbubble contrast agent bearing a covalently coupled peptide that selectively binds alpha-v beta-3 integrin on the vascular endothelial surface. The alpha-v beta-3 integrin is a well-recognized biomarker of angiogenesis expressed on activated blood vessels. The contrast agent will be useful for scientists investigating the cellular/molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, engaged in molecular imaging of integrin expression, and for researchers developing anti-cancer therapy who need to detect angiogenesis and visualize regions of tumor growth. Visistar Integrin can be used with most clinical and pre-clinical ultrasound scanners. Agent echogenicity is optimal at ultrasound frequencies in 1-20 MHz range, and ultra-high frequency imaging (20-40 MHz) is also possible.

Targeson plans to develop a series of contrast agents in the Visistar product line, with each product bearing covalently-bound ligands specific for molecular markers of disease. The Visistar agents represent a significant advance in ultrasound contrast agent design, as the formulation enables administration directly from the vial and eliminates the need for user conjugation of targeting molecules. Additionally, the Visistar agents utilize a biocompatible coupling chemistry, which eliminates the need for biotin/streptavidin conjugation reagents.

Targeted contrast ultrasound imaging has emerged as an important molecular imaging modality, as it provides a convenient and noninvasive technique for characterizing and evaluating biological processes in vivo. In tumor settings, ultrasound molecular imaging is being used increasingly to provide insight into expression levels of target proteins and to facilitate monitoring responses to therapeutic interventions. Targeson’s targeted contrast agent products enable researchers to expand the use of existing ultrasound scanners into molecular and functional imaging.

About Targeson

Targeson, Inc. (www.targeson.com) develops, manufactures, and markets ultrasound imaging agents for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. The company’s contrast agent technologies enable researchers to quantify microvascular perfusion and characterize diseases at the molecular level using portable and cost-efficient ultrasound ultrasound imaging. Targeson also currently offers:

Targestar-P, a non-targeted ultrasound contrast agent designed to enhance contrast in the vasculature and can be used to image and quantify blood flow and vascular function.

Targestar-SA, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent coated with streptavidin, enabling conjugation of a vast array of targeting ligands to the agent using standard biotin-avidin coupling chemistry. It can be used for diverse molecular imaging applications, including tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular plaque, thrombosis, organ transplant rejection, and inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory disorders.

La Jolla, CA – August 1, 2009- Targeson announced the introduction of Targestar^TM SA, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent for use in preclinical drug discovery and basic science research. Targestar SA agents are echogenic lipid microbubbles bearing streptavidin on the shell surface. Targestar SA enables a convenient, single step conjugation of biotinylated antibodies, peptides or small molecules specific for molecular markers of disease.  The agent is useful for diverse ultrasound molecular imaging applications such as tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, atherosclerosis and other preclinical models of disease. Targestar SA can be used with most clinical and research ultrasound scanners. Agent echogenicity is optimal at ultrasound frequencies in the 1-20 MHz range, and ultra-high frequency imaging (20-40 MHz) is also possible.

Contrast ultrasound imaging is emerging as an effective imaging technique in basic science and the drug discovery process. This imaging method is inexpensive, portable, and permits anatomical and functional imaging in real time. Targeted molecular imaging provides a convenient and noninvasive technique for characterizing biological processes in vivo and monitoring responses to therapeutic interventions. Targeson’s targeted contrast agent products enable researchers to expand the use of existing ultrasound scanners into molecular and functional imaging. 

About Targeson

Targeson, Inc. (www.targeson.com) develops, manufactures, and markets ultrasound imaging agents for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. The company’s contrast agent technologies enable researchers to quantify microvascular perfusion and characterize diseases at the molecular level using portable and cost-efficient ultrasound ultrasound imaging. Targeson also currently offers:

Targestar-P, a non-targeted ultrasound contrast agent designed to enhance contrast in the vasculature and can be used to image and quantify blood flow and vascular function.

Targestar-B, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent coated with biotin, enabling conjugation of a vast array of targeting ligands to the agent using standard biotin-avidin coupling chemistry. It can be used for diverse molecular imaging applications, including tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular plaque, thrombosis, organ transplant rejection, and inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory disorders. 

Charlottesville, VA – Feb 1, 2009 – Targeson announced today that it has been awarded a Phase I small business innovation research (SBIR) award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This project, to be led by Targeson Vice President for Research Dr. Joshua (Jack) Rychak, aims to develop an ultrasound-mediated therapy for delivery of therapeutics to the diabetic kidney. The project builds on Targeson’s proprietary targeted microbubble platform. Research will be performed in conjunction with Dr. Kumar Sharma, Director of Translational Research in Kidney Disease and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

About Targeson

Targeson, Inc., (www.targeson.com), develops, manufactures, and markets ultrasound imaging agents for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. The company’s contrast agent technologies enable researchers to quantify microvascular perfusion and characterize diseases at the molecular level using portable and cost-efficient ultrasound ultrasound imaging.

Charlottesville, VA – Sept 28, 2008 – Targeson announced that it has received notice of award of a Phase I small business innovation research (SBIR) award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal of the project is to develop a novel ultrasound contrast agent for molecular imaging of angiogenesis in tumor tissues. Angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth and elicits distinctive molecular characteristics in angiogenic endothelial cells. The molecular diversity of angiogenic endothelial cells provides an avenue for delivering targeted contrast agents specifically to the tumor vasculature. Targeson aims to utilize its expertise in contrast agent targeting to generate an ultrasound probe bearing covalently-bound ligands specific for multiple molecular markers of angiogenesis.  The agent will expand upon Targeson’s current product line, Targestar™, by enabling direct-from-vial administration of contrast agents and eliminating the need for user conjugation to targeting molecules.

According to Targeson VP for Product Development, Christopher Anderson, PhD, “We are developing a highly efficient and easy to use product for detecting and demarcating angiogenic tumors in the setting of basic science and drug discovery research. A multi-targeted contrast agent will be useful for scientists evaluating the development of tumors over time and for researchers developing anti-cancer therapy, who need to detect angiogenesis and visualize the regions of tumor growth.”

Molecular imaging has emerged as an essential tool in cancer research, and ultrasound is an emerging molecular imaging technique. Ultrasound currently has a significant footprint in cancer research, although these systems are primarily used for anatomical imaging. Targeson’s targeted contrast agent products enable researchers to expand the use of existing ultrasound scanners into molecular and functional imaging. The Company is focused upon developing contrast agents for molecular imaging of tumor angiogenesis, as well as inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis. About Targeson

Targeson, LLC is an early-stage biotechnology company active in the field of ultrasound contrast imaging. The Company has developed two contrast agent formulations, currently available for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. Targeson is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. For more information, visit www.targeson.com.

Targeson has developed two microbubble contrast agents that can be used for molecular and functional imaging using ultrasound. Targeson’s agents are lipid-encapsulated perfluorocarbon microbubbles with a mean diameter of 2.5 um, can be used in a wide variety of animal models, and are compatible with virtually all ultrasound scanners. Click here to learn more about Targeson’s products and applications (must have Flash Player installed). 

Charlottesville, VA – 01 February 2008 – Targeson announced that it has received notice of award of a Phase I small business innovation research (SBIR) award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This project will expand upon Targeson’s current product line, Targestar™, by enabling direct-from-vial administration of contrast agents. Current site-targeted ultrasound contrast agents require conjugation of the ligand to the agent by the user, which can be time-consuming and costly. Targeson will develop contrast agents bearing covalently-bound ligands specific for molecular markers of inflammation and tumor angiogenesis. These agents will utilize Targeson’s proprietary multiple-targeting strategy for enhanced contrast agent retention.

According to Targeson President and CEO Stephen Parks, “We anticipate that the agents currently being developed by Targeson will fulfill the promise of ultrasound as a convenient, rapid, and cost-effective imaging modality, and enable the use of our products by a broader user base.”

The Company is focused upon developing contrast agents useful for imaging inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis, and tumor angiogenesis.

About Targeson

Targeson, LLC is an early-stage biotechnology company active in the field of ultrasound contrast imaging. The Company has developed two contrast agent formulations, currently available for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. Targeson is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. For more information, visit www.targeson.com.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands –24 January 2008 –Targeson presented data on the Company’s molecular imaging research at the 13th European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging. Targeson co-founder and VP for Research and Development Joshua Rychak presented recent work from the Company and collaborators at the University of Virginia in the area of molecular imaging of atherosclerosis. This study utilized a proprietary dual-targeting strategy for imaging inflammatory components of atherosclerotic plaque development in mice.

According to Dr. Rychak, “The data we are presenting suggests that by conjugating a unique combination of two ligands to the Targestar-B microbubble, we can achieve a significant increase in microbubble attachment to targets expressed in large arteries. This dual-targeting strategy may prove to be extremely useful for imaging diseases in which adverse hemodynamic conditions or a low density of target molecules may prevent adhesion of a sufficient number of microbubbles.” 

The European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging is held annually in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and brings together a unique group of clinicians, scientists, and industry representatives in the field of contrast ultrasound. Further information about the Symposium may be found online at http://www2.eur.nl/fgg/thorax/contrast/

 About Targeson

Targeson, LLC is an early-stage biotechnology company active in the field of ultrasound contrast imaging. The Company has developed two contrast agent formulations, currently available for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. Targeson is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. For more information, visit www.targeson.com.