TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 4, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc. (www.imarx.com) is pleased to announce that Jeane M. Tsutsui, MD of the University of Nebraska Medical Center will be presenting results from her research with MRX-815, ImaRx's patented nanobubble.
Dr. Tsutsui's research incorporates both the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of MRX-815. She will present "Diagnostic Ultrasound-Guided Treatment of Acute Intravascular Thrombi with Therapeutic Ultrasound and Intravenous Microbubbles" on Monday, November 8th at 2:45pm in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 243-245.
Dr. Tsutsui worked with the MRX-815 bubble, which is injected into the blood stream to treat a clot. In her research, Dr. Tsutsui applied an imaged-guided (also known as a diagnostic) level of ultrasound energy to the bubbles to 1) identify their location and 2) determine the most efficacious time to apply the therapeutic ultrasound. Once the bubbles are observed at the clot site, a therapeutic level of ultrasound energy is applied causing the bubbles to cavitate, dissolving the clot.
Dr. Tsutsui explains, "I am excited to see that the use of diagnostic ultrasound can be coupled with therapeutic ultrasound to provide a better outcome in treating thrombosis. I look forward to presenting these data at the November AHA meeting."
Experimental Design
Twenty-five arteriovenous occlusions in a canine model were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group 1 (control) received saline and therapeutic ultrasound only; Group 2 received MRX-815 and therapeutic ultrasound and; Group 3 received MRX-815 and both diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound. The study endpoint was angiographic flow after 30 minutes.
Following 30 minutes of treatment, the blood flow through the treated vein was measured. Group 3 (the only group to receive MRX-815 and the image-guided and therapeutic ultrasound) showed an angiographic reflow of 60% compared to 10% or less for groups 1 and 2 (p=0.01). However, after 45 minutes of treatment, there was no difference in angiographic flow between groups 2 and 3.
In conclusion, the dissolution of blood clots with MRX-815 and therapeutic ultrasound is enhanced when guided by diagnostic ultrasound.
About ImaRx
ImaRx, a privately held biopharmaceutical company, develops nano-based therapeutics for cardiovascular disease. ImaRx's lead therapeutic candidate, the MRX-815 nanobubble, is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials for use in dissolving blood clots in patients with deep vein thrombosis. Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of stroke and Phase I/II trials for acute limb ischemia are scheduled to begin in late 2004. The MRX-815 nanobubbles are an optimized version of bubbles developed by ImaRx that are now marketed for diagnostic applications by Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging (NYSE:BMY) (www.bmsmi.com). ImaRx retains all targeted and therapeutic rights to its technologies, which are protected by more than 100 issued patents.
Forward-Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the Company's control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include results of current or pending research and development activities, actions by the FDA, and other regulatory authorities, and the Company's success in raising capital.