Monday, August 17th, 2009
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.
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
La Jolla, CA – August 1, 2009- Targeson announced the introduction of TargestarTM 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.
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
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.