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Partner 18: GUERBET SA, Villepinte, France Scientist responsible: Dr. Sarah CATOEN
Guerbet (http://www.guerbet.com/) is the only international pharmaceutical group fully dedicated to medical imaging products and services. It is an independent group quoted on the Paris Stock Exchange with its head office in France. In 2008, sales were 321 M€ (70% realized out of France). About 1200 employees are working in Guerbet worldwide. Guerbet is present in Europe with 12 subsidiaries as well as in USA, Brazil, Mexico, Taïwan, Korea and Japan. All French sites are ISO 9001 v. 2000-certified as well as subsidiaries in Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. There are four specialized production sites: three in France and one in Brazil. From a regulatory point of view, contrast agents are regarded as drugs and, consequently, are submitted to the same regulatory requirements as therapeutical drugs (in terms of bio-pharmaceutical, toxicological, analytical and clinical files). About 170 people are working in R&D departments. R&D expenses in 2008 were 29.0 M€. There are three major topics studied by Guerbet research teams, concerning contrast agents for:
Molecular imaging is fast becoming a major research topic worldwide because of its numerous potential applications. Guerbet is strongly involved in the research and development of new MRI contrast agents aimed at improving the sensitivity of this non-invasive diagnostic technique. Our scientific teams (chemists, biologists, physicists) have developed strong skills in lanthanide chelate synthesis, iron oxide nanoparticles, physico-chemical characterization, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and Magnetic Resonance Experimental Imaging (on pathological animal models). The complementary nature between Guerbet and its know-how regarding synthesis and characterization of contrast agents as well as the in vitro and in vivo proof of concept for medical imaging, and other partners of N.A.D project makes of this collaboration a potentially very fruitful one. Publications Idée JM, Port M, Raynal I, et al. In: Kumar CSSR, (ed.). The superparamagnetic iron oxides nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging applications. Nanomaterials for Medical Diagnosis and Therapy (Series : Nanotechnologies for Life Sciences, Vol. 10), 2007 ; p 51-84 Corot C., Ph. Robert, Idée JM et al. Recent advances in iron oxide nanocrystal technology for medical imaging. Adv. Drug Deliv. Reviews 2006, 58 ; p 1471-1504 Corot C, Petry KG, Trivedi R et al. Macrophage imaging in central nervous system and in carotid atherosclerotic plaque using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide in magnetic resonance imaging. Invest Radiol. 2004;39(10):619-25. Raynal I, Prigent P, Peyramaure S, et al. Macrophage endocytosis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: mechanisms and comparison of ferumoxides and ferumoxtran-10. Invest Radiol. 2004;39(1):56-63.
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