Targeson

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.