Two Tucson companies have initiated clinic trials in the treatment of ailments in their respective areas of study.

The first company, AmpliMed Corp., was founded in 1991 to investigate the possibilities of the drug Amplimexon, which kills cells in malignant melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma. According to the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Citizen, the company has thus far been successful in garnering $5.2 million in investments, with the goal of obtaining $8 million.

The papers reported that Amplimexon had reached the trial stage in Germany in the 1970s, but was forgotten when the principle researcher died.

"We rediscovered it," AmpliMed chief executive Evan Hersh told the Citizen.

Harry George, president of venture investment company Solstice Capital Management, told the Citizen that the drug's history encouraged Solstice’s investment. AmpliMed has received investments from key local venture firms, including Valley Ventures ($1.8 million), Solstice Capital II ($750,000), and its partner Village Ventures ($200,000).

"Cancer research is a real strength of the University of Arizona and the group here is the A-team," said George. The drug is under development at the Arizona Cancer Center on the UA campus.

ImaRx Therapeutics, the second company beginning trials, is investigating the effectiveness of their non-invasive approach to breaking up vascular blood clots. The technique uses a combination of ultrasound and "microbubbles"--tiny, gas-filled lipid spheres smaller than red blood cells. The initial study will apply the technique to treating blood clots in kidney dialysis patients whose access grafts have become blocked.

"The trials in dialysis grafts are key as they will provide us important information on how clots are dissolved prior to expanding SonoLysis therapy clinical trials in other cardiovascular disease states," said Evan Unger, president and CEO of ImaRx. "Blood clots underlie numerous forms of cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer in the US. We believe SonoLysis will provide a new treatment paradigm for these patients."

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For more information:

"Tucson firm funded to seek cancer drugs," Arizona Daily Star, 09/16/2003

"Banking on cancer drugs," Tucson Citizen, 09/16/2003

"ImaRx Therapeutics Initiates Clinical Trials for Unique, Non-Invasive Vascular Blood Clot Treatment," ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc. press release, 09/18/2003

ImaRx home page