An old BVF holding: AVM:
Advanced Magnetics, Inc. Announces Promising New Data from MRA Clinical Trials of Ferumoxytol (Code 7228)
Monday July 14, 8:32 am ET
-- Early Results Show Broad Potential in Cardiovascular Imaging --
-- Presentations Made at International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine --
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Magnetics, Inc. (Amex: AVM - News) today announced that new clinical data on ferumoxytol (Code 7228), their next-generation product in the development pipeline, was presented at the 11th scientific meeting and exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) being held in Toronto from July 10th - July 16th, 2003. Clinical investigators presented data in two independent poster presentations on the use of ferumoxytol in contrast- enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
The investigators concluded that the true blood pool characteristics of ferumoxytol enabled the performance of multiple first-pass MRA images as well as steady-state MRA and allowed investigators to repeat imaging up to 24 hours later to obtain additional diagnostic information. Ferumoxytol, as a true blood pool agent, resides in the vascular space for an extended period of time and does not leak out into adjacent tissues like currently used gadolinium- based contrast agents.
One of the presentations, "Preliminary Evaluation of Ferumoxytol as an Iron Oxide Based Blood Pool Contrast Agent for CE-MRA," was given by Dr. Pottumarthi Prasad, Associate Director of MR Research and Dr. Robert Edelman, Chairman, Department of Radiology, both at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. They concluded: "[The] combination of first-pass and steady-state MRA could allow for comprehensive angiographic evaluation. In combination with first- pass perfusion imaging, [ferumoxytol-enhanced MRA] could allow for comprehensive evaluation for ischemic diseases such as stroke [as well as] whole body MRA with a single administration of the agent."
The other presentation, "Detecting Aortic Stent Graft Leak with Blood Pool MRA Using Ferumoxytol," given by Dr. Martin Prince, Professor of Radiology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, stated that ferumoxytol-enhanced MRA detected stent leaks in all six patients evaluated as compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA) which detected only two of the six stent leaks.
"This early data shows the potential advantages that ferumoxytol as a contrast agent used in MRA may have over the contrast agents currently used in MRA," said Jerome Goldstein, Chairman and CEO of Advanced Magnetics, Inc. "The breadth of applications that a true blood pool agent with the product characteristics of ferumoxytol could have in MRA, from cardiovascular imaging to plaque characterization, is an exciting opportunity for Advanced Magnetics. We are very encouraged by this early data and look forward to working with these investigators to learn more about ferumoxytol's potential in MRA."
Ferumoxytol is currently in Phase II clinical trials for use as a contrast agent in MRA and in exploratory studies for the diagnosis of vulnerable plaque. Ferumoxytol is also in Phase II clinical trials for use as an iron replacement therapeutic in patients with chronic kidney disease who are receiving erythropoietin therapy.
Advanced Magnetics, Inc. is the premier developer of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles used in pharmaceutical products. As a leader in its field, Advanced Magnetics is dedicated to the development and commercialization of its proprietary nanoparticle technology for use in therapeutic iron compounds to treat anemia, as well as novel imaging agents to aid in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and cancer. For more information about Advanced Magnetics, please visit the company's website at www.advancedmagnetics.com. |
