Targeson receives grant to develop next generation of molecular imaging ultrasound contrast agents
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.