Pharmaceutical developer Alliance Pharmaceutical of San Diego is launching a clinical study to investigate the use of its Imavist ultrasound contrast agent for the detection of prostate cancer.
The study will involve 300 men with suspected prostate cancer and will be conducted at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The U.S. Department of Defense is funding the study.
The goal of the study will be to investigate whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound could become an accurate, noninvasive diagnostic test for identifying prostate cancer. Other studies, such as digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen tests, have low specificity rates and produce false-positive results that can lead to unnecessary biopsies.
Imavist is being developed jointly by Alliance and German pharmaceutical firm Schering. The product is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for echocardiography applications.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersOctober 8, 2001
Related Reading
Alliance wins patent interference ruling against Nycomed, September 20, 2001
Alliance closes in on Imavist clearance, August 20, 2001
Nycomed Amersham expands ultrasound efforts as Mallinckrodt exits sector, August 6, 2001
Alliance completes purchase of MBI, January 3, 2001
Alliance eyes bigger slice of ultrasound contrast market in bid for MBI, October 12, 2000
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