Epix said following Berlin-based Schering’s decision not to exercise its option it will retain full rights to the EP-2104R program. Schering is in the process of being acquired by fellow German drug maker Bayer AG.
US-based Epix, which recently announced a definitive agreement to merge with Predix Pharmaceuticals Holdings, says it intends to actively pursue a new collaboration after the phase IIa feasibility studies of EP-2104R generated encouraging images. Following these results the group anticipates the compound could have a potential role in imaging medicine.
EP-2104R is Epix’s second novel imaging agent in human clinical trials. It is designed to detect blood clots using an MRI machine.