Alliance Pharmaceutical of San Diego and Schering of Berlin, Germany, last month signed an agreement in which Alliance will grant Schering licensing rights to its Imagent US ultrasound contrast agent. Imagent US is based on microbubbles that contain a
Alliance Pharmaceutical of San Diego and Schering of Berlin, Germany, last month signed an agreement in which Alliance will grant Schering licensing rights to its Imagent US ultrasound contrast agent. Imagent US is based on microbubbles that contain a mixture of perfluorochemical vapor and a physiological gas to enhance ultrasound images. It is being targeted for the assessment of cardiac function and perfusion, as well as for the detection of tumors in solid organs. The agent has completed phase II clinical studies for cardiac function.
In exchange for rights to the agent, Schering has agreed to pay licensing fees, reimburse for Alliance's R&D expenses, and purchase a minority interest in Alliance. Imagent US will complement other ultrasound agents in Schering's R&D portfolio, including Levovist and Echovist, which are on the market in some European countries but are not sold in the U.S. So far, Alliance and Imagent US have managed to avoid the recent controversy over ultrasound patents and litigation (SCAN 8/6/97).
European Society of Breast Imaging Issues Updated Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
April 24th 2024One of the recommendations from the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) is annual breast MRI exams starting at 25 years of age for women deemed to be at high risk for breast cancer.
Study Reveals Benefits of Photon-Counting CT for Assessing Acute Pulmonary Embolism
April 23rd 2024In comparison to energy-integrating detector CT for the workup of suspected acute pulmonary embolism, the use of photon-counting detector CT reduced radiation dosing by 48 percent, according to newly published research.
Could a Newly FDA-Cleared C-Arm Device Bolster Efficiency for Interventional Radiologists?
April 22nd 2024In addition to advanced imaging quality and dose efficiency, the Philips Zenition 30 mobile C-arm device emphasizes personalized user profiles and automated customization to help reduce procedure time.