Evan C. Unger, M.D. - eunger@imarx.com,
520-770-1259, 520-907-1916
President & CEO
ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc.
1635 E. 18th Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
Popular version of paper 2aBB5
Presented Tuesday morning, December 4, 2001
142nd ASA Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL
ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc. has developed new gas-filled microbubbles for therapy with ultrasound. The company previously developed Definity®, an injectable microbubble product, which was FDA approved as an ultrasound imaging agent in August of 2001. ImaRx sold the Definity product to DuPont Pharma (now Bristol-Myers) and kept all rights to the microbubbles for therapeutics.
Taking
Aim on Disease
One type of new therapeutic microbubble being developed by ImaRx has targeting
ligands on the surface, to make it act like "molecular Velcro" and
stick to a desired target. ImaRx has made a new product, MRX-408, where the
microbubble contains ligands that allow it to specifically bind to the activated
receptors of platelets in blood clots. Upon IV injection the tiny microbubbles,
which are smaller than a red blood cell, home in on and bind to clots. The clots
can then be seen more easily with diagnostic ultrasound, but even more importantly,
the microbubbles can be used for dissolving the blood clots. The microbubbles
resonate from the application of ultrasound then burst, transferring the ultrasound
energy to the blood clot and causing it to dissolve.
Click on the picture for video (AVI format)
A Serious Health Concern
New, improved treatments for vascular thrombosis (blood clots) are needed as
it is the single most common cause of death in the United States. When vascular
thrombosis occurs, such as in stroke and heart attack, the more quickly and
safely that the clots can be dissolved, the better the chances are of recovery
for the patient. This new technology of clot lysis with ultrasound, assisted
by "smart" microbubbles has the potential to quickly, non-invasively
and safely dissolve clots. The company is planning to start clinical trials
next year for the new microbubble product for treating blood clots with ultrasound.
Looking
to the Future
ImaRx is also developing other microbubble products as advanced therapeutic
agents. Genes for gene therapy can be delivered by microbubbles. Applying ultrasound
allows for site specific delivery of the gene and targeting ligands may also
be used to increase the specificity of the therapy. Thus genes may be delivered
to specific organs, such as the heart or liver for expression. The microbubbles
containing genes do not use infectious agents, such as viruses, which are used
in many gene therapy formulations. Drugs may be incorporated into microbubbles
to achieve selective release of drugs at a desired location for therapeutics,
such as release into a tumor for cancer therapy.
During the Convention Dr. Unger will be staying at:
Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott
Phone: 1-954-463-4000 Fax: 1-954-527-6705
During the meeting, you can also contact Dr. Unger at 520-907-1916.