Serac Healthcare, a clinical radiopharmaceutical company, has made a significant stride in the diagnosis of endometriosis. The company has announced the preliminary results from the first patient cohort in the “Detecting Endometriosis expressed integrins using technetium-99m” (DETECT) study, focusing on the imaging of endometriosis using the innovative agent 99mTc-maraciclatide. These findings are set to be presented at the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
Led by Professor Christian Becker and Professor Krina Zondervan of the Endometriosis CaRe Centre and the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford, the DETECT study aims to visualize endometriosis, including the often elusive superficial peritoneal disease, using 99mTc-maraciclatide and SPECT-CT imaging. The study’s significance lies in the potential to enhance the visualization and diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition that cannot be consistently detected with current non-invasive imaging methods.
99mTc-maraciclatide is a radio-labelled tracer that binds with high affinity to αvβ3 integrin, a cell adhesion protein, and images angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels. This process is crucial in the development of endometriotic lesions. The DETECT study involves imaging women with confirmed or suspected endometriosis before their laparoscopic surgery, a procedure used for examining organs in the abdomen and pelvis. The collected tissue samples are analyzed to confirm the presence of αvβ3 and compare the laparoscopic and radiographic data to assess the potential of 99mTc-maraciclatide as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early-stage endometriosis.
David Hail, Chief Executive Officer of Serac Healthcare, commented: “This is a potentially hugely exciting additional use for maraciclatide. There are significant unmet medical needs in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. A definitive tool to diagnose and monitor endometriosis has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and could assist in the development of new therapies.”
Endometriosis affects approximately 190 million women worldwide, causing pain, inflammation, and infertility. The current diagnostic journey for endometriosis is often lengthy and complex, with an average delay of 7.5 years for a definitive diagnosis. The DETECT study’s approach, using 99mTc-maraciclatide, could revolutionize this process, offering a more efficient and less invasive diagnostic method.
