Preclinical and evaluation of [C]ORM-13070 as PET ligand for alpha-2C adrenergic receptor occupancy using PET imaging in non-human primates.

This paper describes the preclinical validation of the radioligand [C]ORM-13070 and its tritiated analog for addressing selectivity and occupancy of the selective alpha-2C adrenergic receptor (αR) antagonist BAY 292 in the cynomolgus brain. BAY 292 is a novel drug candidate being developed for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) via binding to central αR. autoradiography studies with sections from non-diseased post-mortem human caudate revealed an excellent specific binding window (>80%) using [H]ORM-13070.

Discovery of BAY 2413555, First Selective Positive Allosteric Modulator of the M2 Receptor to Restore Cardiac Autonomic Balance.

Autonomic disbalance, i.e., sympathetic overactivation and parasympathetic withdrawal, is a causal driver of disease progression in heart failure.

Synthesis of tritium-labeled Lu-PSMA-617: Alternative tool for biological evaluation of radiometal-based pharmaceuticals.

This project focuses on the generation and evaluation of functional alternatives to radiometal-based pharmaceuticals supporting basic research and the in vitro developmental phase. Employing robust tritium chemistry and non-radioactive metal surrogates in two synthetic and labeling strategies resulted in ([ring-H]Nal)PSMA-617 and ([α,ß-H]Nal)PSMA-617. In particular, ([α,ß-H]Nal)Lu-PSMA-617 exhibited high radiolytic as well as metal-complex stability and was compared to the clinically-established radiopharmaceutical [Lu]Lu-PSMA-617.

Evaluation of alphavbeta3 integrin-targeted positron emission tomography tracer 18F-galacto-RGD for imaging of vascular inflammation in atherosclerotic mice.

Background: (18)F-Galacto-RGD is a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer binding to alpha(v)beta(3) integrin that is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, we evaluated (18)F-galacto-RGD for imaging vascular inflammation by studying its uptake into atherosclerotic lesions of hypercholesterolemic mice in comparison to deoxyglucose.

Methods And Results: Hypercholesterolemic LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) mice on a Western diet and normally fed adult C57BL/6 control mice were injected with (18)F-galacto-RGD and (3)H-deoxyglucose followed by imaging with a small animal PET/CT scanner.

Evaluation of a novel (18)F-labeled positron-emission tomography perfusion tracer for the assessment of myocardial infarct size in rats.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate a new (18)F-labeled positron-emission tomography (PET) perfusion tracer, (18)F BMS747158-02, for the assessment of myocardial infarct (MI) size.

Methods And Results: Wistar rats were studied 24 hours after ligation of the left coronary artery either permanently (n=15) or transiently (n=16) for 30 minutes. Seven nonoperated rats were studied as controls.

A new 18F-labeled myocardial PET tracer: myocardial uptake after permanent and transient coronary occlusion in rats.

Unlabelled: Conventional myocardial perfusion PET tracers require onsite tracer production because of their short radioactive half-lives. To investigate the potential of a new (18)F-labeled pyridazinone analog ((18)F-BMS-747158-02), we characterized this tracer in a rat model of permanent and transient coronary occlusion using small-animal PET.

Methods: Myocardial (18)F-BMS-747158-02 distribution in healthy rats (n = 7), rats with transient (3-min) left coronary artery occlusion (n = 11), and rats with permanent left coronary occlusion (n = 11) was analyzed with a dedicated small-animal PET scanner.

Development of novel 68Ga- and 18F-labeled GnRH-I analogues with high GnRHR-targeting efficiency.

A large majority of tumors of the reproductive system express the gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR). Blockade and activation of this receptor with various antagonistic and agonistic analogues of native GnRH-I (pGlu(1)-His(2)-Trp(3)-Ser(4)-Tyr(5)-Gly (6)-Leu(7)-Arg(8)-Pro(9)-Gly(10)-NH2), respectively, has shown efficient suppression of tumor growth. In this study, the GnRH-receptor system has been evaluated with respect to its suitability as a target for in vivo peptide receptor targeting using radiolabeled GnRH-analogues, and in parallel, new (18)F- and (68Ga)-labeled GnRH analogues have been developed.

Initial characterization of an 18F-labeled myocardial perfusion tracer.

Unlabelled: PET allows for quantitative, regional myocardial perfusion imaging. The short half-lives of the perfusion tracers currently in use limit their clinical applicability. Here, the biodistribution and imaging quality of a new 18F-labeled myocardial perfusion agent (18F-BMS-747158-02) in an animal model are described.

Seromucosal transport of intravenously administered carbamazepine is not enhanced by oral doses of activated charcoal in rats.

The fate of carbamazepine after intravenous injection in rats (n = 24) and the influence of activated charcoal on the kinetics was investigated. After randomization to four groups (n = 6, each), plasma concentration and the quantities of carbamazepine and metabolites excreted into bile, urine and intestine were determined using an in situ perfusion model of the small intestine (Ringer's solution) with or without orally administered activated charcoal (AC+; AC-) and with or without bile duct cannulation (BD+; BD-). The cumulative amount of carbamazepine and metabolites exsorbed into the small intestine within 3.

PET/CT with Gluc-Lys-([(18)F]FP)-TOCA: correlation between uptake, size and arterial perfusion in somatostatin receptor positive lesions.

Purpose: Somatostatin receptor (sstr) positive tumours vary widely in uptake of radiolabelled somatostatin (sst) analogues. This study determinates variability in lesion uptake of the glycosylated sst analogon N(alpha)-(1-deoxy-D-fructosyl)-N(epsilon)-(2-[(18)F]fluoropropionyl)-Lys(0)-Tyr(3)-octreotate (Gluc-Lys([(18)F]FP)-TOCA) and correlates it with lesion size and arterial perfusion as measured on computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Ten patients with metastasized neuroendocrine carcinomas were investigated with positron emission tomography PET/CT (Biograph 16, Siemens, Germany).

Enteral exsorption of acetaminophen after intravenous injection in rats: influence of activated charcoal on this clearance path.

The fate of acetaminophen after intravenous injection in whole bowel-irrigated rats (n = 40) and the influence of activated charcoal on the kinetics were investigated. After randomization to four groups (n = 10, each group), plasma concentration and the quantities of acetaminophen and metabolites excreted into bile, urine and intestine were determined using an in vivo model with or without orally administered activated charcoal and with or without bile duct cannulation. The cumulative amount of acetaminiphen and metabolites exsorbed into the small intestine within 3.

Synthesis of novel 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) derivatives for chemoselective attachment to unprotected polyfunctionalized compounds.

A convenient synthesis of novel bifunctional poly(amino carboxylate) chelating agents allowing chemoselective attachment to highly functionalized biomolecules is described. Based on the well known chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), we synthesized novel bifunctional chelating agents bearing additional functional groups by alkylating 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) with one equivalent of para-functionalized alkyl 2-bromophenyl-acetate and three equivalents of tert-butyl 2-bromoacetate. The resulting compounds, which contain an additional carbonyl or alkyne functionality, allow site specific labeling of appropriately functionalized unprotected biomolecules in a rapid manner via click reactions.

Gluc-Lys([18F]FP)-TOCA PET in patients with SSTR-positive tumors: biodistribution and diagnostic evaluation compared with [111In]DTPA-octreotide.

Unlabelled: A recently developed (18)F-labeled PET tracer for somatostatin receptor (sstr) imaging, N(alpha)-(1-deoxy-D-fructosyl)-N(epsilon)-(2-[(18)F]fluoropropionyl)-Lys(0)-Tyr(3)-octreotate (Gluc-Lys([(18)F]FP)-TOCA), was evaluated in patients with sstr-positive tumors by assessing the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and diagnostic performance in comparison with [(111)In]DTPA-octreotide.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with different sstr-positive tumors were included in the study and were injected with 105 +/- 50 MBq Gluc-Lys([(18)F]FP)-TOCA. PET was performed up to 120 min with 2 different dynamic imaging protocols.

Chemoselective hydrazone formation between HYNIC-functionalized peptides and (18)F-fluorinated aldehydes.

Introduction: Since the demand for (18)F-fluorinated peptides for quantitative in vivo receptor imaging using PET has increased, a new chemoselective two-step (18)F-labeling strategy based on hydrazone formation between an unprotected hydrazine-functionalized peptide and an (18)F-labeled aldehyde was developed.

Methods: First, 4-[(18)F]fluorobenzaldehyde ([(18)F]FB-CHO) was prepared from 4-formyl-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium triflate via direct no-carrier-added (18)F-fluorination (dimethyl sulfoxide, 90 degrees C, 5 min) and purified by RP-HPLC. Hydrazone formation between [(18)F]FB-CHO and 6-hydrazinonicotinic acid (HYNIC) and the unprotected HYNIC-functionalized peptides (HYNIC-d-Phe(1))-Tyr(3)-Thr(8)-octreotide and (HYNIC-Arg(1))-substance P was evaluated with respect to the dependence of radiochemical yield on pH, precursor concentration and temperature.

Radiolabeled carbohydrated somatostatin analogs: a review of the current status.

During the last decade, peptide radiopharmaceuticals have become an important class of tracers for the detection and localization of malignant neoplasms by peptide receptor imaging (PRI) and for therapeutic intervention by peptide receptor radiotherapy (PRRT). Various radiometalated peptides have entered detailed clinical studies or found broad application for peptide receptor radiotherapy. In contrast, radiohalogenated peptides could not benefit from this development.

First (18)F-labeled tracer suitable for routine clinical imaging of sst receptor-expressing tumors using positron emission tomography.

Purpose: Despite excellent radionuclide characteristics, no (18)F-labeled peptides are available for quantitative peptide receptor mapping using positron emission tomography (PET) so far, mainly due to time-consuming multistep radiosyntheses with limited overall yields. A newly developed two-step chemoselective conjugation method allows rapid and high-yield [(18)F]fluorination of peptides via oxime formation and was applied for the synthesis of new (18)F-labeled carbohydrated Tyr(3)-octreotate (TOCA) analogs with optimized pharmacokinetics suitable for clinical routine somatostatin-receptor (sst) imaging.

Experimental Design: (18)F-labeled glucose (Gluc-S-) and cellobiose (Cel-S-) derivatives of aminooxy-functionalized TOCA were synthesized via oxime formation with 4-[(18)F]fluorobenzaldehyde ([(18)F]FBOA-peptides).

Two-step methodology for high-yield routine radiohalogenation of peptides: (18)F-labeled RGD and octreotide analogs.

Unlabelled: Routine application of (18)F-labeled peptides for quantitative in vivo receptor imaging of receptor-expressing tissues and quantification of receptor status using PET is limited by the lack of appropriate radiofluorination methods for routine large-scale synthesis of (18)F-labeled peptides. To satisfy this demand, a new (18)F-labeling methodology based on the chemoselective oxime formation between an unprotected aminooxy-functionalized peptide and an (18)F-labeled aldehyde or ketone was investigated and optimized with respect to peptide conjugation.

Methods: 4-[(18)F]Fluorobenzaldehyde ([(18)F]FB-CHO) was prepared from the 4-formyl-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium precursor via direct no-carrier-added (18)F-fluorination (dimethyl sulfoxide, 60 degrees C, 15 min) and purified using a cation-exchange/reversed-phase cartridge system.