Molecular Targeting Technologies, a radiotherapeutics biotech company focused on cancer, announced a new PET imaging agent to help clinicians monitor cancers' response to therapy.
MTTI won a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its F-18 fluroglucaric (F-18-FGA) acid necrosis agent, the firm announced Tuesday. The West Chester, Pennsylvania-based company can convert commercially available 18F-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) to 18-F-FGA in as little as five minutes, according to the patent.
In addition to monitoring tumor response, the tracer can image the death of cancerous cells within tumors, known as necrosis, and track organ fibrosis in kidney disease and liver fibrosis. For decades researchers have been searching for an agent that can pull this off without accumulating in the body, MTTI President and CEO Chris Pak noted.
“An 18F-FGA imaging agent for necrosis can revolutionize a diagnostic workup of many human diseases where tissue necrosis occurs as part of the pathology,” inventors of the radiopharmaceutical Vibhudutta Awasthi, PhD, and Hailey Houson, PhD, both with the University of Oklahoma, said in a statement.
The tracer also allows the use of high-resolution and sensitivity PET to spot myocardial infarction and brain stroke, privately held MTTI noted.
“We’re excited for this discovery and look forward to advancing this molecule to clinic,” Pak added.
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.