EM Imaging obtains global licence for optical agent that detects cancer early
Edinburgh Molecular Imaging Ltd. (EM Imaging) has signed an exclusive global license for a novel optical imaging agent that could improve the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer. EM Imaging signed the licensing agreement with GE Healthcare Ltd. EM Imaging will now complete the development of the imaging agent “EMI-137” that can help doctors identify colorectal cancer.
In a recent scientific study the EMI-137 agent allowed doctors to see more early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) and precancerous tumours, which can then easily be removed via colonoscopy. However, screening with a colonoscope, which is currently the most common method, can miss up to 25% of precancerous growths, especially smaller, flat lesions.
Dr James Hardwick, the lead investigator said: “Of the 47 precancerous polyps detected in this study, 12 were missed using a standard colonoscope. This underlines how unreliable this method can be, and we therefore welcome life-saving new technology like EMI-137. This agent has the potential to make polyps light up like light bulbs – allowing clinicians to detect and remove more polyps, prevent more cancers and save more lives.”
Evidence that colorectal cancer can be prevented by the removal of pre-cancerous lesions and polyps is strong. The EMI-137 agent can help doctors more easily identify these suspicious lesions, take a sample or remove the lesion completely.
The Phase I/IIa study, in 35 subjects (20 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with high risk of CRC) shows that optical molecular imaging using the fluorescent agent specific for c-Met is feasible and safe.
Fluorescence colonoscopy in patients receiving intravenous EMI-137 enabled the visualisation of all neoplastic polyps that were visible with white light, and additionally, detected previously missed polyps that were not visible with white light alone. This enables the detection of polyps missed by other techniques.
EMI-137 is a water-soluble compound consisting of a 26–amino acid cyclic peptide, conjugated to a fluorescent cyanine dye, that binds to human tyrosine kinase c-Met, a receptor frequently overexpressed during cancer growth. EMI-137 has the potential on intravenous administration to image a wide range of cancers including, breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer, bile duct carcinoma and lung cancer, due to its specific targeting of the c-Met–receptor.
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