Trials & Patents

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ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. (St-Laurent, QC) has announced the results from an engineering optimization study, which tested the company’s SoftScan® non-invasive cancer imaging device. The study followed 49 patients with either abnormal or normal mammograms, and found that SoftScan images were consistent with mammogram findings in cases where suspicious masses had been found. SoftScan discriminates between malignant and benign breast tissue based on deoxyhemoglobin content.

Medicon A/S. (Birkerod, Denmark) will be conducting the Phase I clinical trial of .Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.’s. (Calgary, AB) NTx™ -265 stroke treatment program. Medicon was previously retained by Stem Cell to prepare the synopsis and feasibility study for the Phase I trial. Upon approval of the clinical trial protocol and package by Danish regulatory authorities, the two companies expect the trial to commence six weeks following the submission.

The Swedish Medical Products Agency (Uppsala, Sweden) has approved BioMS Medical Corp.’s. (Edmonton, AB) Phase II/III clinical trial of MBP8298 for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The trial, which is currently enrolling up to 553 patients in Canada and the U.K., will now expand to include Sweden. Patients will intravenously receive either MBP8298 or a placebo every six months for a two-year period.

Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.. (Vancouver, BC) has announced the results of its Phase IIa double-blind, placebo-controlled study of tetrodotoxin (Tetrodin™), used to treat withdrawal symptoms in methadone-maintained patients. The study followed 14 patients in a four-day pretreatment regimen of 30 mg of Tetrodin twice per day, and found this treatment schedule did not alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Wex noted the results are inconclusive due to a low number of participants and a variety of responses. As well, due to the study design, patients who received the treatment were not experiencing withdrawal during the pretreatment phase. The company will not pursue Tetrodin’s development in Canada until a future partnership is established.

Angiometrx Inc.. (Vancouver, BC), a division of Medical Ventures Corp.. (Richmond, BC), has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Metricath™ Gemini Balloon Catheter used for peripheral artery procedures. U.S. clinical trials are slated to begin shortly, while the American introduction of the catheter is planned for later this year, now that Angiometrx and its U.S. distributor have received the clearance.