Ultrasound contrast agent developer Sonus Pharmaceuticals has again restructured its agreement with Abbott Laboratories. Under the terms of the original contract signed in 1996, Abbott held exclusive marketing rights in the U.S. for Sonus' EchoGen agent. The modified relationship now allows the firms to discuss alternative methods of marketing, selling and distributing EchoGen in the U.S. EchoGen is approved for marketing in the European Union and is under review by the Food and Drug Administration.
Abbott now has the option of either marketing and distributing EchoGen in the U.S. -- subject to obtaining necessary regulatory approvals -- or terminating the existing marketing agreement whether regulatory approvals are received or not. This option terminates on March 31, 2000. No financial payments were made relative to modification of the agreement, and no payments will be made during the term of Abbott's option.
The companies have also agreed to amend the manufacturing and supply agreement under which Abbott manufactures EchoGen for Sonus. If this agreement is terminated, Abbott will manufacture EchoGen for two years following FDA approval, but no later than July 1, 2002. At that time, Abbott will transfer EchoGen manufacturing responsibility, processes and data to Sonus or to a third party selected by Sonus.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
February 17, 2000
Copyright © 2000 AuntMinnie.com
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
