Targeson, Inc. receives SBIR Grant
San Diego, CA – August 23, 2011 - Targeson, Inc. (www.targeson.com) announced today that it has received notice of funding for the Company’s R43 grant by the National Institutes of Health. This project, entitled “Ultrasound-based molecular imaging agent for imaging acute myocardial syndromes,” will explore the use of Targeson’s targeted microspheres as a diagnostic imaging test for detecting recent myocardial ischemia. Research will be conducted in conjunction with Professor Anthony DeMaria, MD at the University of California, San Diego. Current methods for assessing the extent of cardiac ischemic injury in an acute setting offer limited sensitivity and specificity, which leads to both under- and over-treatment of patients with suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome. The aim of this grant will be to investigate a novel microsphere contrast agent targeted to a molecular marker of recent ischemia, enabling visualization of recent myocardial ischemia using echocardiography. Targeson has identified a novel targeting ligand and developed a biocompatible coupling chemistry suitable for eventual translation to human use.
About Targeson
Targeson develops, manufactures and markets ultrasound imaging agents for functional and molecular imaging applications in the research market. Targeson’s commercial products include: Targestar® P, a non-targeted ultrasound contrast agent designed to enhance and quantify blood flow and vascular function; Targestar P-HF, a perfusion contrast agent specifically designed to be used with high frequency ultrasound scanners; Targestar SA, a targetable ultrasound contrast agent enabling any biotinylated antibody or biomolecule to be coupled to a microsphere, making it suitable for molecular imaging applications including tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic plaque, thrombosis, organ transplant rejection and inflammatory diseases; Visistar® Integrin, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent coated with a peptide that binds integrin αvβ3; and Visistar VEGFR2, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent coated with a VEGFR2 binding ligand, both indicated for molecular imaging of angiogenesis and tumor growth.
For further information please contact 877-290-4043/858-427-3675 or info@targeson.com
Targestar and Visistar are registered trademarks of Targeson, Inc.