Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. receives U.S. patent for ultrasound-imaging compositions.SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 1997--Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ALLP) has been issued U.S. patent number 5,605,673, ``Stabilized Microbubble mi·cro·bub·ble n. An extremely small bubble, usually only a few hundred micrometers in diameter, that can be uniformly suspended in a liquid such as blood. Compositions for Ultrasound.'' This patent covers methods of forming stable microbubble formulations such as Imagent US, Alliance's perfluorohexane- containing intravenous contrast agent being developed for enhancement of ultrasound images. The patent also covers methods of forming microbubbles containing perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane, perfluoroheptane and other fluorochemicals. The newly issued patent includes claims regarding methods of using the formulations in conjunction with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), noninvasive diagnostic technique that uses nuclear magnetic resonance to produce cross-sectional images of organs and other internal body structures. . In addition, it describes proprietary methods for spray-drying the microbubbles to make a powder to facilitate storage and shipping of the product. Alliance's ultrasound-patent portfolio also includes U.S. patent number 5,540,909, ``Harmonic Ultrasound Imaging harmonic ultrasound imaging Imaging A method designed to improve ultrasonographic detection of contrast agents in blood-containing cavities and vascularized tissue. See Contrast echocardiography. Cf Sonicated albumin, Transient response imaging. With Microbubbles,'' which covers methods of harmonic imaging using microbubble compositions containing fluorocarbon fluorocarbon /flu·o·ro·car·bon/ (floor´o-kahr?b?n) any of the class of organic compounds consisting of carbon and fluorine only. gases. Harmonic ultrasound is a new technique that requires the presence of an agent such as Imagent US or the other formulations identified in Alliance's patent. Imagent US is currently the subject of two multicenter Phase II studies. These studies are designed to assess the ability of the product to perfuse per·fuse v. 1. To pour or diffuse a liquid over or through something. 2. To force blood or other fluid to flow from the artery through the vascular bed of a tissue or to flow through the lumen of a hollow structure. the myocardium myocardium /myo·car·di·um/ (-kahr´de-um) the middle and thickest layer of the heart wall, composed of cardiac muscle. hibernating myocardium see myocardial hibernation, under (heart muscle) and detect areas of infarct (blood-flow blockages), and to evaluate the capability of Imagent US to detect and characterize space-occupying lesions (tumors, cysts and hemangiomas) of the liver and kidney. Alliance is a pharmaceutical research and development company focusing on transforming novel scientific discoveries into innovative drug products. Two additional products based on its perfluorochemical technologies are currently in clinical studies. Oxygent (perflubron emulsion), an intravascular intravascular /in·tra·vas·cu·lar/ (in?trah-vas´ku-lar) within a vessel. in·tra·vas·cu·lar adj. Within one or more blood vessels. oxygen carrier, is being developed to reduce or eliminate the need for allogeneic (donor) blood transfusions during elective surgery. Enrollment was recently completed in two Phase II studies with Oxygent, which is being co-developed with affiliates of Johnson & Johnson. LiquiVent, an intrapulmonary drug for use in treating patients with acute respiratory failure to reduce the morbidity associated with conventional mechanical ventilation, is in Phase III studies with pediatric patients, and has completed an adult Phase II trial. LiquiVent is being co-developed with Hoechst Marion Roussel. CONTACT: Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., San Diego Gwen Rosenberg, 619/558-4375 |
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