Diatide Launches Blood Clot Imaging Product

A novel, radiolabeled synthetic peptide, intended to help physicians image and detect acute thrombi that if undetected could lead to risk of pulmonary embolism, has been released by Diatide, Inc. and Nycomed Amersham Imaging.

AcuTect (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc 99m apcitide injection) has been introduced by the two companies for the scintigraphic imaging of acute venous thrombosis (blood clots) in the lower extremities. Diatide received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and sell AcuTect in mid-September 1998.

"We believe this novel imaging agent can bring new confidence to acute DVT diagnosis and help physicians select the most appropriate treatment possible for preventing a life-threatening situation," said Dr. Richard T. Dean, Diatide's president and CEO.

AcuTect is intended to complement ultrasound in discerning acute from recurrent situations. It is administered through an intravenous injection and binds preferentially to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors found on activated platelets present at the earliest stages of the acute disease process. Imaging begins between 10 and 60 minutes after injection.

For more information: Daniel F. Harrington, Diatide, Inc., 9 Delta Drive, Londonderry, NH 03053. Telephone: 603-437-8970. Fax: 603-437-8977.