A new radiopharmaceutical imaging agent is earning praise after research showed it is safe and effective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Molecular imaging experts from Finland revealed their 68Ga-labeled Siglec-9 peptide in the April edition of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The PET tracer targets inflammation, a key aspect of many chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and quickly clears from the bloodstream.
The results of this first in-human study are preliminary, but may help detect inflammation and ensure patients receive the best treatment possible, lead researcher Anne Roivainen and colleagues explained.
"Our radiopharmaceutical is a product of long-term preclinical research work, and it is rewarding to see results that match our expectations,” Roivainen, a professor at the University of Turku’s PET Center in Finland, added in a statement.
The radiotracer was evaluated in six healthy participants who underwent whole-body 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 PET/computed tomography scans. Each tolerated the agent, which has a similar radiation profile as other 68Ga-labeled tracers.
In one particular individual with rheumatoid arthritis, the radiotracer clearly identified joints with painful swelling and stiffness.
Roivainen and co-authors reiterated that their results are promising, but cautioned the material must meet strict medical and statistical criteria before it can be used more broadly. To do this, they are planning to perform additional tests with the novel radiopharmaceutical.
“Future studies will clarify whether 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 PET imaging has the potential to detect other inflammatory diseases early,” Roivainen noted. “It could also help to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and promptly identify patients who are unlikely respond to therapy.”
Read the entire study here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.