MRI contrast firm Epix files IPO

Epix Medical of Cambridge, MA, has filed a registration statementwith the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial publicoffering of two million shares of stock, plus an overallotmentoption of 300,000 shares. Epix, formerly known as Metasyn, isa developer of targeted contrast agents, including MS-325, a gadolinium-basedagent for MR angiography of coronary and peripheral arteries.

Epix has licensed rights to MS-325 and other MRI vascular agentsin all countries except Japan to Mallinckrodt of St. Louis (SCAN10/9/96). MS-325 has entered phase I clinical trials, and proceedsfrom Epix's IPO will help fund that work and will be used forgeneral corporate purposes.