“Microbubble-Enhanced Sonothrombolysis, From Benchtop to Multi-Center Clinical Trials for Stroke”
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Abstract: In 1990, I founded ImaRx Pharmaceutical Corp., a Tucson based biotechnology company that successfully developed three drugs that were approved by the FDA. The Company was financed largely by licensing and milestones payments from pharmaceutical partners. DefinityŽ, injectable microbubbles, the #1 selling ultrasound contrast agent in North America was developed by ImaRx. In 1999, I sold the diagnostic rights for Definity and retained the therapeutic rights to microbubbles and in 2000 formed ImaRx Therapeutics to develop therapeutic applications of microbubbles. Potential therapeutic applications of microbubbles include drug and gene delivery, sensitizers for focused high intensity ultrasound (HIFU) and as cavitation nuclei for sonothrombolysis. In vitro, pre-clinical studies and clinical studies have been performed illustrating the use of microbubbles to enhance sonothrombolysis. I helped design the strategy and clinical trials program for microbubble enhanced sonothrombolysis to treat ischemic stroke that is currently in multi-center clinical trials.
In addition to describing the science behind ultrasound contrast agents and sonothrombolysis, my talk will give a snapshot of challenges in founding start-up biotechnology companies and potential rewards. Since stepping down from ImaRx as CEO in October of 2006, I have returned to the University of Arizona and am now directing much of my efforts towards trying to set up a Center of Excellence for MR guided HIFU or non-invasive surgery to potentially treat a variety of diseases.

Monday, October 1, 2007
 2:00 pm
Keating 103
Host:  Urs Utzinger, Ph.D. (626-9281)

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the Disability Resource Center at 621-3268 (V/TTY).  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.