Amersham reports new Visipaque data

UK biotechnology company Amersham has reported positive clinical trialresults for its third-generation X-ray contrast agent, Visipaque (iodixanol), which should help boost its sales, according to analysts at ING Financial Markets, who have upgraded the firm from hold to buy as a result.

The NEPHRIC study, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (February 6), found that Visipaque has clear safety advantages over older contrast agents, with a lower tendency to cause acute renal dysfunction. As Visipaque is the only third-generation product on the market, the analysts believe its use will increase, driving sales to around L180 million ($295 million) in 2006. Turnover of the product in 2002 is expected to come in at L94 million.