Diatech Inc. announced that it has filed an investigation newdrug (IND) application with FDA on its imaging agent fordetecting deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

The Londonderry, N.H., company is developing a technetium-99m labeled peptide -- called P280 -- that is specific foractivated platelets.

In pilot studies on nine patients in Naples, Italy, P280 was ableto detect thrombi in the legs "as quickly as five minutes afteradministering the product," explained Richard Dean, presidentand chief executive officer of Diatech. As well, P280successfully imaged previously documented pulmonaryembolism in two of those nine patients.

Diatech already has one peptide imaging product in Phase I/IIclinical trials in the U.S., for atherosclerotic plaque.

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