ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp. Enters Licensing Agreement with DuPont Merck for MRX-115 Aerosomes(R)

Strategic Insights -

ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp., a privately held biotechnology company based in Tucson, Ariz., has announced a licensing agreement with DuPont Merck for MRX-115 Aerosomes(R), a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent with applications for cardiac and blood pool imaging. The agreement marks a significant step forward for ImaRx, as DuPont Merck will assume responsibility for clinical development of cardiology and radiology indications for MRX-115 after ImaRx completes Phase II clinical trials. This collaboration will enable ImaRx to accelerate development of its other products, including a liver MR contrast agent, a blood pool MR contrast agent, and TomoRx(R), the world's first negative density gastrointestinal contrast agent for both computed tomography and MR.

Key Takeaways:

  • ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp. has entered into a licensing agreement with DuPont Merck for MRX-115 Aerosomes(R), a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent.
  • MRX-115 has shown consistent enhancement of intraventricular contrast and no adverse safety observations in Phase I clinical trials.
  • DuPont Merck will assume responsibility for clinical development of cardiology and radiology indications for MRX-115 after ImaRx completes Phase II clinical trials.
  • ImaRx will retain rights to the agent for radiology applications in the European Union and all rights in other regions of the world.
  • ImaRx has developed other products, including LumenHance(R), the world's first biphasic gastrointestinal magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent, and SonoRx(R), the world's first gastrointestinal ultrasound contrast agent.
  • ImaRx is developing novel technologies for drug and gene delivery.

Statistics:

  • 2 Phase I clinical trials for MRX-115 were completed earlier this year with positive results.
  • ImaRx has 4 other products under development, including a liver MR contrast agent, a blood pool MR contrast agent, and TomoRx(R), the world's first negative density gastrointestinal contrast agent for both computed tomography and MR.
  • ImaRx was founded in 1991 and is a privately held Arizona corporation.

Sources:

  • ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp.
  • DuPont Merck
  • Thomas Fritz or Dr. Evan Unger of ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp. (520-770-1259)
  • Kathy Loehrig of Anne Klein & Associates (609-988-6560)