Chemical, usually phenidone, hydroquinone or metole, which reduces exposed silver ions to atomic silver.

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(July 20, 2009 - EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that, in light of the company's lack of capital and inability to obtain additional financing or consummate a strategic transaction, it has entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, effective immediately, in accordance with Massachusetts law).
EPIX has been a specialty pharmaceutical firm developing targeted contrast agents to improve the capability of MRI as a diagnostic tool for a variety of diseases. Gadofosveset trisodium (formerly MS-325, Vasovistâ„¢, now ABLAVARtâ„¢), is an injectable intravascular contrast agents designed for multiple vascular imaging applications, including peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease. EPIX conducted a pivotal Phase III trial for the detection of peripheral vascular disease, as well as a Phase II feasibility trial for coronary artery disease diagnosis.
To ensure rapid development and adoption of gadofosveset trisodium into clinical practice upon regulatory approval, EPIX pursued an aggressive product development plan and commercialization strategy. The Company established an exclusive, worldwide sales and marketing agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG. EPIX also established corporate collaborations with GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems and Siemens Medical Systems, the three leading MRI manufacturers, which together account for approximately 80 percent of the MRI machines installed worldwide.
EPIX had other MRI contrast agents under development, most significantly a novel prototype blood clot agent (EP-2104R). Potential clinical applications for this type of agent include detection of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and blood clots in the coronary and carotid arteries. Currently, there is no high resolution imaging technique to directly visualize blood clots in patients with suspected cardiovascular disease.

Pharmacyclics is a pharmaceutical company developing novel agents to improve current therapeutic approaches to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. The company's proprietary products are derived from its core technology in biometallic chemistry. These products under development are based upon small molecules, which bind metals in a unique way and are capable of capturing and focusing forms of energy used in a variety of medical applications. The company has one product in registration with the FDA, Gadolite® Oral Suspension, a contrast agent for imaging the gastrointestinal tract; two products in clinical development, Gd-Tex (Motexafin gadolinium), a radiation sensitizer, Lu-Tex, a photosensitizer; and several compounds in preclinical development.

MRI Contrast Agents: