SPL Medical announces collaboration with NanoEcho for application ofFerrotran® (Ferumoxtran) for Ultrasound detection of Lymph node metastases.


In NanoEcho’s method for diagnostics of rectal cancer lymph node metastases, modern ultrasound technology is used together with iron-oxide nanoparticles. For the clinical effectiveness of the system, the choice of the appropriate nanoparticle is essential.


Ferrotran®, the lymphotropic nanoparticle of SPL medical, is in advanced phase III for the detection of lymph node metastases for prostate cancer patients with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The Ferrotran® particle has been developed as a platform technology for various applications for the broad base of installed MRI scanners worldwide.
With this collaboration with NanoEcho the Ferrotran® platform technology will be extended also to modern ultrasound technologies.

  • „The extension of the scope of applicability of Ferrotran® to ultrasound technology demonstrates
    the wide power of our platform technology beyond the broad field of nano particle-MRI“, says Dr.
    Jürgen Feuerstein CEO for SPL Medical.
  • „We are very pleased to have established this collaboration with SPL medical. This is an important
    step in our journey. Based on our initial evaluation, the particle provided by SPL medical looks very
    promising for our application. Their expertise in the development and commercialization of
    nanoparticles is impressive and will be very beneficial for us at NanoEcho“, says Dr. Linda Persson
    CEO for NanoEcho.
    About SPL Medical:
    SPL medical is a spin-off of the Radboud university medical center and is funded additionally by
    Oost NL, a Dutch regional venture capital company, and b.e. imaging GmbH, a German company
    specialized in the development and commercialization of contrast agents.
    About Ferrotran®:
    Ferrotran® belongs to the group of USPIO’s (Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Particles of Iron Oxide).
    Ferrotran® can be applied in MRI as a safe bloodpool agent for angiography and for functional
    diagnostics in detection of even the smallest lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients
    and is currently under investigation for use in various other cancers.
    Ferrotran® is safe, as it is based on iron and therefore metabolized naturally in the body.
    Ferrotran® is in advanced phase III in various prestigious European University Hospitals. Ferrotran®
    has been applied successfully in over 700 patients in the Netherlands and Switzerland in special
    approval permissions.