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Covidien and University of New South Wales to develop novel imaging agent
Monday, 29 November 1999 19:00 | 
| Radiology News - Radiology Articles |
NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited and Covidien Ltd. announced the signing of a license agreement to develop an innovative, radiolabeled molecular imaging agent for evaluating the efficacy of cancer treatments.
NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited, the technology transfer arm of University of New South Wales (UNSW), and Covidien Ltd. (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV) announced the signing of a license agreement to develop an innovative, radiolabeled molecular imaging agent for evaluating the efficacy of cancer treatments. This technology could assist oncologists in determining the effectiveness of treatment and the necessity for other therapeutic measures.
Based in Sydney, Australia, UNSW is a leader in the field of adult cancer research with internationally recognized medical scientists. Covidien Imaging Solutions, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a leading provider of imaging products used by physicians to detect and diagnose various diseases.
Under the exclusive, worldwide agreement, Covidien Imaging Solutions has product development and commercialization rights for this apoptosis technology, which was invented by Professor Philip Hogg, who is a co-director of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre. The family of small molecules developed by Professor Hogg is designed to bind to cancer cells undergoing apoptosis, or the process of cell death, as a result of chemotherapy treatment.
"This discovery stems from more than ten years of research focused on the design of molecular probes to study cellular processes," said Professor Hogg. "These molecules are uniquely designed to attach to proteins inside cells undergoing apoptosis driven by chemotherapy."
This early-stage apoptosis detection technology could take many years to develop, but it has the potential for broad application across a wide array of solid tumor cancers. According to data from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are approximately 11 million new cases of cancer worldwide each year. Along with helping doctors to assess therapeutic responses non-invasively, this apoptosis technology would support the movement toward personalized or targeted therapies based on a patient's specific needs.
"This license agreement demonstrates Covidien's focus on technology that is intended to improve patient care," said Steve Hanley, President of Covidien Imaging Solutions. "Our goal is to diagnose diseases or disease processes as early as possible. Apoptosis imaging would assist physicians in personalizing a patient's treatment by reducing the time needed to gauge the effectiveness of therapy."
In addition, pharmaceutical companies may use the apoptosis technology to evaluate new products for cancer treatment. Apoptosis-detecting imaging agents may also have applications outside of cancer, such as in neurological and cardiac disease following strokes and heart attacks.
Based in Sydney, Australia, UNSW is a leader in the field of adult cancer research with internationally recognized medical scientists. Covidien Imaging Solutions, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a leading provider of imaging products used by physicians to detect and diagnose various diseases.
Under the exclusive, worldwide agreement, Covidien Imaging Solutions has product development and commercialization rights for this apoptosis technology, which was invented by Professor Philip Hogg, who is a co-director of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre. The family of small molecules developed by Professor Hogg is designed to bind to cancer cells undergoing apoptosis, or the process of cell death, as a result of chemotherapy treatment.
"This discovery stems from more than ten years of research focused on the design of molecular probes to study cellular processes," said Professor Hogg. "These molecules are uniquely designed to attach to proteins inside cells undergoing apoptosis driven by chemotherapy."
This early-stage apoptosis detection technology could take many years to develop, but it has the potential for broad application across a wide array of solid tumor cancers. According to data from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are approximately 11 million new cases of cancer worldwide each year. Along with helping doctors to assess therapeutic responses non-invasively, this apoptosis technology would support the movement toward personalized or targeted therapies based on a patient's specific needs.
"This license agreement demonstrates Covidien's focus on technology that is intended to improve patient care," said Steve Hanley, President of Covidien Imaging Solutions. "Our goal is to diagnose diseases or disease processes as early as possible. Apoptosis imaging would assist physicians in personalizing a patient's treatment by reducing the time needed to gauge the effectiveness of therapy."
In addition, pharmaceutical companies may use the apoptosis technology to evaluate new products for cancer treatment. Apoptosis-detecting imaging agents may also have applications outside of cancer, such as in neurological and cardiac disease following strokes and heart attacks.
