It is intended to provide a novel amino acid organic compound which can be used as a labeling precursor compound for radioactive halogen-labeled amino acid compounds including [.sup.18F]FACBC, and which prevents methanol from remaining in the radioactive halogen-labeled amino acid compounds produced therefrom. The novel amino acid organic compound is a compound represented by the following formula: ##STR00001##
wherein n is an integer of 0 or of 1 to 4; R.sup.1 is an ethyl, 1-propyl or isopropyl substituent; X is a halogen substituent or a group represented by OR.sup.2; R.sup.2 is a straight-chain or branched-chain haloalkylsulfonic acid substituent with one to 10 carbon atoms, trialkylstannyl substituent with 3 to 12 carbon atoms, fluorosulfonic acid substituent or aromatic sulfonic acid substituent; and R.sup.3 is a protective group.

The present invention relates to a novel composition comprising 1-amino-3-[.sup.18F]-fluorocyclobutanecarboxylic acid ([.sup.18F]-FACBC) wherein said composition has certain superior properties in comparison with known compositions comprising [.sup.18F]-FACBC. Also provided by the invention is a method to obtain said composition.

The present invention relates to a novel composition comprising 1-amino-3-[.sup.18F]-fluorocyclobutanecarboxylic acid ([.sup.18F]-FACBC) wherein said composition has certain superior properties in comparison with known compositions comprising [.sup.18F]-FACBC. Also provided by the invention is a method to obtain said composition.

There is provided a diagnostic imaging agent for early bone metastasis from cancer, containing trans-1-amino-[.sup.18F]fluorocyclobutanecarboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

The present invention relates to a method of in vivo imaging with meta-[.sup.123I]iodobenzylguanidine ([.sup.123I]mIBG) and more particularly wherein said method is used to stratify a defined subset of subjects with heart failure into particular treatment regimens.

The present invention relates to a method of in vivo imaging with meta-[.sup.123I]iodobenzylguanidine ([.sup.123I]mIBG) and more particularly wherein said method is used to stratify a defined subset of subjects with heart failure into particular treatment regimens.

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is increasingly recognized as a viable target for imaging and therapy of cancer. Various 99mTc/Re-labeled compounds were prepared by attaching known Tc/Re chelating agents to an amino-functionalized PSMA inhibitor with or without a variable length linker moiety. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging demonstrated the degree of specific binding to engineered PSMA+ PC3 PIP tumors.

The present invention generally relates to novel synthetic methods, systems, kits, salts, and precursors useful in medical imaging. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions comprising an imaging agent precursor, which may be formed using the synthetic methods described herein. An imaging agent may be converted to an imaging agent using the methods described herein. In some cases, the imaging agent is enriched in .sup.18F. In some cases, an imaging agent including salt forms (e.g., ascorbate salt) may be used to image an area of interest in a subject, including, but not limited to, the heart, cardiovascular system, cardiac vessels, brain, and other organs.

A PSMA-specific imaging agent comprising a compound according to formula I:

##STR00001## are described, wherein S.sup.1 is an organic spacer group having from 5 to 30 carbons, A is an amino acid forming a portion of a negatively charged peptide oligomer, n is from 3 to 6, S.sup.2 is an organic spacer group having from 5 to 15 carbons, and I is an imaging group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The PSMA-specific imaging agents can be used to image PSMA within a tissue region to guide the treatment of diseases such as prostate cancer.

The present invention relates to a solid precursor in the form of an organic salt, the solid precursor having a solid support, a method for manufacturing same, and an application thereof. The solid precursor of the present invention enables omission of the [.sup.18F]fluoride refining process using additional cartridge, and the use of excessive phase-transfer catalyst, and can easily remove remaining substance after reaction through the solid support inside the precursor. The solid precursor of the present invention is very appropriate for an automated synthesis device as an all-in-one system that can carry out overall process of [.sup.18F]fluorosis reaction, when used by charging in a cartridge.