CENTENNIAL, Colo.,
June 1, 2006 -Cell>Point
today announced it plans to start a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the
effectiveness of its 99mTc-EC-DG
(Technetium-99m-Ethylenedicys-teine-Deoxyglucose) in diagnosing the presence of
viable tissue in regions of the myocardium damaged by myocardial infarction or
chronic coronary artery disease.
The company has
completed the Phase I safety trial on 99mTc-EC-DG in addition to
canine heart remodeling studies.
Previously
developed as a functional imaging agent for oncology applications,
99m Tc-EC-DG should improve diagnostic accuracy in determining if
a patient would benefit from coronary revascularization,Cell>Point believes,
whether in the setting of the cardiologist's practice or hospital emergency
room. The sooner the diagnosis is
confirmed, the better chance a patient will have for improved systolic function
following a myocardial infarction.
In addition
to myocardial viability,Cell>Point plans to study the effectiveness of
99mTc-EC-DG in other cardiac indications including a study in
conjunction with myocardial perfusion imaging in women (who often exhibit
false-positive results following the perfusion stress procedure), and a study of
early diagnosis of congestive heart failure onset.