Nycomed releases lung agent in Europe

NeoSpect, a product for noninvasive diagnosis of suspected lung cancer, has entered the European market. The nuclear medicine product has been on the U.S. market since 1999 under the trade name NeoTect, which is being comarketed by Nycomed Amersham and Berlex. Developed and marketed by Nycomed Amersham Imaging, the agent binds selectively to the somatostatin receptor, which is overexpressed by malignant tumors in the lung. Current diagnostic methods typically uncover lung cancer only in advanced stages, offering little hope of recovery to the patient. NeoSpect has a high sensitivity for this type of cancer, raising prospects for early detection, according to the company. The high specificity may allow physicians to forego biopsy, otherwise required for a definitive diagnosis.