News Release

Novel noninvasive molecular imaging for monitoring rheumatoid arthritis

First reliable way to monitor rheumatoid arthritis

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Comparison

image: This is a comparison of Tc-99m tilmanocept radiopharmaceutical uptake on planar imaging in subjects with active RA (A: 200 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc-99m; B-C: 400 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc 99m) versus healthy controls (D-F: 400 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc-99m) at three hours post-IV administration). view more 

Credit: Credit: A Kardan et al., University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

ANAHEIM, CA - A first-in-human Phase 1/Phase II study demonstrates that intravenous administration of the radiopharmaceutical imaging agent technetium-99m (99mTc) tilmanocept promises to be a safe, well-tolerated, noninvasive means of monitoring rheumatoid arthritis disease activity. At present, there is no reliable noninvasive way to directly monitor inflammation in joints of RA patients. The study was presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

According to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)--a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory joint disease--affects more than 1.3 million Americans. Activated macrophages release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that significantly contribute to the initiation and propagation of RA. 99mTc tilmanocept (TCT) binds to the macrophage mannose receptor CD206, which is highly expressed on activated macrophages in RA. Previous clinical studies have shown subcutaneous administration of TCT to be safe and effective.

"Intravenous (IV) administration of TCT provides a novel noninvasive molecular imaging marker that demonstrates joint-specific, CD206-expressing synovial macrophage involvement," explains Arash Kardan, associate professor of radiology at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. "It reveals potentially significant qualitative and quantitative immunodiagnostic information regarding the distribution and severity of active disease involvement in RA patients."

For the study, 39 subjects (33 with active RA and six healthy controls) were divided into 11 groups and received various combinations of intravenous 99mTc at 1, 5 and 10 mCi with 50, 200, or 400 μg of tilmanocept. They then had standard gamma camera whole-body planar imaging, as well as spot view of the hands and wrists from front to back at one hour and three hours post-injection. Twelve of the 39 subjects (six RA/six healthy controls) underwent whole-body planar scans for radiodosimetry assessment and pharmacokinetic analysis.

No adverse drug reactions or serious adverse events were observed in any dose group. Planar imaging revealed that TCT localizes specifically in the inflamed joints of RA patients and not in the joints of healthy individuals. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis and modeling established an optimal mass dose of 134 μg tilmanocept/10 mCi of 99m TC, stable over an imaging time frame of one to three hours post-injection.

For the purposes of accuracy and streamlining practice, a mass dose of 150 μg and imaging time frame of one to three hours post-injection are recommended for future use.

Kardan says, "These results enable the initiation of further clinical studies to assess if intravenous 99mTc tilmanocept imaging can provide physicians with a noninvasive, receptor-specific molecular imaging marker of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity status to guide the most effective therapeutic strategy for their patients. This includes when to initiate therapy and evaluation of response to therapy, thereby improving outcomes for all patients with rheumatoid arthritis."

###

FIGURE: A comparison of Tc-99m tilmanocept radiopharmaceutical uptake on planar imaging in subjects with active RA (A: 200 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc-99m; B-C: 400 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc 99m) versus healthy controls (D-F: 400 μg tilmanocept / 10 mCi Tc-99m) at three hours post-IV administration). Credit: A Kardan et al., University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

Abstract 89: "A Phase I/Phase II Study of Intravenously (IV) Administered Tc 99m Tilmanocept (TCT) to Determine Safety, Tolerability, Optimal Clinical Dose Selection, and Imaging Timepoint in Patients Clinically Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)," Arash Kardan, Charles F. Kettering Memorial Hospital, Wright State University, Kettering, OH, and University Hospitals - Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Allison Kissling, Carley Hartings, Rachael Hershey, Michael Blue, David Ralph, Michael Rosol, Ayah Hussein, Katherine Repp, and Bonnie Abbruzzese, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Dublin OH; Lori Christman, STATKING Clinical Services, Fairfield, OH; Maria Corsi, Z-Concepts LLC, East Haven, CT; Ron Korn, Imaging Endpoints Scottsdale AZ; and Frederick Cope, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Dublin, OH, and Physis International, Westerville, OH.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (Grant R44AR067583; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02683421).

To schedule an interview with the researchers, please contact David Harrison at (410) 804-1728 or david@harrisoncommunications.net. All 2019 SNMMI Annual Meeting abstracts can be found online at http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/60/supplement_1.

About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

SNMMI's more than 16,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit http://www.snmmi.org.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.