MBI’s CT agent shows promise

A liver-specific CT contrast agent under development at Molecular Biosystems (MBI) was featured at the biannual Contrast Media Research Conference, held Sept. 13 through 17 in Woodstock, VT. Animal studies have shown that the agent, MB-840, could help clinicians identify and monitor primary and metastatic liver tumors as small as 1 to 2 mm, whereas water-soluble CT contrast agents can detect tumors no smaller than 20 mm. MB-840 could also help physicians find diseases of the hepatobiliary system, MBI said. The San Diego, CA, company expects to begin clinical trials for the agent next year, according to Dr. Howard Dittrich, executive vice president. MBI also developed Optison, an ultrasound contrast agent cleared by the FDA in 1997 (SCAN 1/14/98).