Thursday, January 24th, 2008
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.
Monday, October 1st, 2007
Charlottesville, VA – 01 October 2007 –Targeson announces that Dr. Brian Campbell will become Chairman of the Company’s Board of Managers, effective October 1 2007. Dr. Campbell will succeed Targeson co-founder Klaus Ley, MD, who has served as Chairman since November 2005. Dr. Ley will chair the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board, effective immediately. “Brian brings an enormous wealth of experience in corporate management, and we are excited to welcome him to the team,” said Steve Parks, President and CEO.
Dr. Campbell holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario - Canada and a PhD in Business Administration from Columbia University. He is currently Chief Financial Officer for Dynamic Literacy, an education company in Charlottesville, VA.
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.
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Charlottesville, VA – 25 September 2007 – Targeson announced that it has completed a licensing arrangement with SibTech, Inc of Newington, CT. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, SibTech will provide Targeson with its proprietary single-chain vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) peptide for use with Targeson’s ultrasound contrast agent system. Targeson agents bearing the SibTech ligand will be used for imaging VEGF receptor expression, a useful molecular marker of tumor growth. Targeson will develop and market ultrasound contrast agent kits using the SibTech compound in the preclinical molecular imaging market. Unlike many molecules currently used as targeting ligands, SibTech’s VEGF compound exhibits reactivity in multiple animal species, does not activate intracellular VEGF signaling, and does not possess the potentially immunogenic domains found in antibodies.
“Partnering with SibTech provides Targeson with access to a tremendous depth of experience in the tumor imaging field,” said Joshua Rychak, Targeson Vice President for Research and Development. “The SibTech compounds are uniquely suited for non-invasive imaging of VEGF receptor expression, and developing contrast agents utilizing these ligands will enable ultrasound imaging to rapidly enhance its position in the tumor imaging field.”
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
About SibTech
SibTech is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that develops protein-driven conjugates for targeted delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents. With more that $3.5 M in Small Business Innovative Research Grants from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense, SibTech has developed a new platform technology for loading therapeutic and diagnostic payloads onto targeting proteins. In this approach, targeting proteins are expressed with a proprietary smart tag engineered for non-destructive, site-specific conjugation of virtually any payload. Currently, SibTech is developing therapeutic and diagnostic constructs for targeting tumor vasculature.