Short name: Code 7228, generic name: Ferumoxytol, central moiety: Fe
Code 7228 is the code name for a substance in the development pipeline (AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for use as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Ferumoxytol, as a true blood pool agent, resides in the vascular space for an extended period of time and does not leak out into adjacent tissues like currently used gadolinium-based contrast agents. The product is being evaluated in MRA applications for the detection of blood flow in the heart muscle, in exploratory studies for the diagnosis of vulnerable plaque and as a next generation lymph node agent.
Code 7228 is currently in approval phase for use as an iron replacement therapeutic in chronic kidney disease patients receiving erythropoetin.
It is presently contemplated that Ferumoxytol will compete with the contrast agents Vasovist™ from EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and NC100150 Injection from Nycomed Amersham.

Short name: NC100150, PEG-feron, generic name: Feruglose, preliminary trade name: Clariscan™
NC100150 injection is the code name for an USPIO (ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide) MRI contrast agent under development. Microvessel permeability depends on functional and morphologic characteristics of cancer vessels and on physicochemical properties of the injected contrast medium molecule.
USPIO particles have a favorable pharmacological and tolerance profile and are being tested clinically of the potential for the quantitative characterization of tumor microvasculature and specifically for measures of the microvessel permeability. Iron-based products take advantage of their large molecular size, which prevents diffusion into body tissues. These agents are disposed of by the liver and spleen as particulate matter.
NC100150 Injection (Nycomed Amersham, Amersham Health ) consists of USPIO particles that are composed of single crystals (4- to 7-nm diameter) and stabilized with a carbohydrate polyethylene glycol (PEG) coat. The iron oxide particles have to be suspended in an isotonic glucose solution. The final diameter of an USPIO particle is approximately 20 nm. Blood pool half-life is more than two hours in humans; the particles are taken up by the mononuclear phagocyte system and distributed mainly to the liver and spleen.
NC100150 would compete with the contrast agents Ferumoxytol from AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Vasovist™ from EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., but at this time the development of NC100150 Injection/Clariscan™ is discontinued.