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EP-2104R: a fibrin-specific gadolinium-Based MRI contrast agent for detection of thrombus

Kirsten Overoye-Chan1, Steffi Koerner, Richard J Looby

  • 1EPIX Pharmaceuticals, 4 Maguire Road, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

EP-2104R is a novel MRI contrast agent that targets fibrin, a key component of blood clots. This agent demonstrates high stability, specific binding to thrombi, and enhanced relaxivity for improved in vivo clot detection.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Medical Imaging
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Thrombus formation is a critical factor in life-threatening conditions like heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.
  • Effective diagnostic tools for early and accurate thrombus detection remain a significant clinical need.
  • Current MRI contrast agents lack specificity and stability for targeted thrombus imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize EP-2104R, a novel MRI contrast agent designed for specific thrombus detection.
  • To evaluate the stability, fibrin-binding affinity, specificity, and relaxivity of EP-2104R.
  • To assess the potential of EP-2104R for in vivo detection of blood clots.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of EP-2104R using a combination of solid-phase and solution techniques.
  • Characterization of the La(III) analogue using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
  • Assessment of EP-2104R's inertness to Gadolinium (Gd) loss under extreme conditions compared to commercial agents.
  • Evaluation of fibrin binding affinity and specificity across multiple species.
  • Measurement of EP-2104R's relaxivity when bound to fibrin.

Main Results:

  • EP-2104R demonstrated superior inertness to Gd(III) loss compared to commercial contrast agents, with <10% Gd loss under extreme conditions.
  • High and consistent binding affinity to human and animal fibrin (Kd = 1.7 ± 0.5 µM).
  • Excellent specificity for fibrin over fibrinogen (>100-fold) and serum albumin (>1000-fold).
  • Significantly high molecular relaxivity (71.4 mM⁻¹s⁻¹ per molecule) when bound to fibrin, approximately 25 times higher than GdDOTA.

Conclusions:

  • EP-2104R exhibits remarkable stability and high affinity for fibrin, making it a promising candidate for targeted thrombus imaging.
  • Its superior specificity and enhanced relaxivity contribute to its potential for effective in vivo blood clot detection.
  • EP-2104R represents a significant advancement in MRI contrast agents for diagnosing thrombotic diseases.

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