Edinburgh Molecular Imaging (EM Imaging) has signed a global license agreement with GE Healthcare and Dyax for an optical imaging agent that could improve the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer.
EM Imaging will now complete the development of EMI-137, 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. The c-Met receptor is frequently overexpressed in cancer growth.
In a recent study, EMI-137 allowed doctors to see more early-stage colorectal cancer and precancerous tumors, which can then be removed via colonoscopy. The agent has the potential to image a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer, bile duct carcinoma, and lung cancer, due to its specific targeting of the c-Met-receptor, according to the company.
The firm plans to begin more studies by the end of this year.
