EVP-ABD Enhanced MRI for Evaluation Liver Disease

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Hepatitis deriving from viral infection and chemical, drug or alcohol toxicity is placing a growing burden on the health care system. While initial diagnosis of hepatitis may rely on medical history, Liver Function Tests (LFT), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results, etc.; confirmation, characterization (grading and staging) and follow-up of hepatitis relies on liver biopsy as the gold standard despite significant morbidity and a small but definite risk of mortality associated with the procedure. A non-invasive test that would provide a reliable measure of the nature and magnitude of diffuse liver disease, correlating to histology and thereby reducing the dependence on periodic biopsies would meet a major unmet need. Eagle Vision Pharmaceutical Corp (EAGLE) is developing EVP-ABD, an intracellular manganese based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent, with unique magnetic and kinetic properties. The potential for correlation between the energy dependent intracellular uptake of EVP-ABD (assessed noninvasively by MRI imaging) and liver function (assessed by histology) will be evaluated in this study. The long term goal of the research is to register and commercialize EVP-ABD in the US and elsewhere as a contrast agent for diagnosis, characterization and assessing effectiveness of treatment of diffuse liver disease. If successful, EVP-ABD should reduce the dependence on serial liver biopsies by providing a noninvasive assessment of diffuse liver disease, and thus reduce the morbidity associated with the procedure.