SPL Medical of the Netherlands is highlighting a milestone in the development of its Ferrotran MRI contrast agent for detecting lymph node metastases from prostate cancer.
SPL reported that Ferrotran was successfully used to diagnose the first patient with suspected lymph node metastases, at University Hospital Zurich. The hospital has received approval to use Ferrotran as part of a compassionate use program.
Ferrotran is indicated for the detection of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer using MRI, and it can identify lesions as small as 1.5 mm, according to the company. The agent is designed to be used in men who have rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
SPL said it is planning to start a large multicenter study of Ferrotran by enrolling 180 patients at 10 radiology centers in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
