New PET Imaging Agent Promises Improved Detection of Coronary Artery Disease and Reduced Radiation Exposure for Obese Patients

A global leader in the development of diagnostic imaging agents has presented the results of a first Phase 3 study of a new PET imaging agent at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Session, in April 2016, in Chicago.

In the study, the new investigational Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging agent was compared to Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to assess Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in patients with a BMI of 30 or higher. Obesity can lead to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

The flurpiridaz F 18 PET imaging agent was developed by Lantheus Medical Imaging (LMI; North Billerica, MA, USA), a company which develops, manufactures, and commercializes diagnostic imaging agents.

The results of the study showed that flurpiridaz F 18 could improve the detection of coronary artery disease in obese patients, compared to SPECT MPI, while at the same time reducing radiation exposure for the patients.

Cesare Orlandi, MD, CMO, Lantheus Medical Imaging, said, "The Phase 3 data sub- analysis presented at ACC show the advantages of flurpiridaz F 18 PET imaging for coronary artery disease detection in obese patients. Flurpiridaz F 18 PET imaging shows superiority over SPECT in an obese population and provides images with better quality, and less attenuation, which can lead to increased diagnostic certainty by physicians. We believe the improved diagnostic accuracy, utility in stress imaging, reduced radiation exposure and potential for quantification of coronary flow reserve provide great promise for flurpiridaz F 18 to become the diagnostic imaging tool of choice for evaluating coronary artery disease in obese patients.”

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Lantheus Medical Imaging