Contrast agent developer Bracco Diagnostics is touting study results that indicate its MultiHance MRI gadolinium-based contrast agent had better performance characteristics in the brain than a competing agent, the firm claims.
Published March 1 in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, the multicenter, randomized, double-blind MERIT study compared MultiHance to Gadavist from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
MultiHance provided better morphologic information, lesion enhancement, and contrast enhancement in the brain than Gadavist at equivalent doses, according to Bracco. The study also found no relevant benefit for the more highly concentrated Gadavist for lesion conspicuity, visualization, or sensitivity.
Bracco said the study is significant because Gadavist differs from other gadolinium-based contrast agents in that it is formulated at twice the concentration of gadolinium per unit volume. The MERIT study indicates the benefits of MultiHance's higher relaxivity, or the rate at which tissues relax after contrast administration, according to Bracco. Higher relaxivity results in greater signal intensity and better contrast enhancement at equivalent dose, the company said.
