Molecular imaging is one important means of providing the data needed to enable personalized medicine.

Affibody® molecules with specificity and selectivity for tumor markers can be used for non-invasive early detection of tumors, and to monitor disease by detecting tumor progression or regression in response to cancer therapy. Diagnostic radioactivity is added to the molecules, which then are injected into the bloodstream of the patient. The molecules bind directly to the specific tumor, making it visible within only a few hours by using gamma camera imaging technologies, such as SPECT and PET.

Affibody® molecules are ideal as imaging agents due to:

• High affinity and selectivity and small size, resulting in a rapid clearance from plasma, yielding a high tumor-to-background image contrast
• Robustness to withstand conditions required for rapid labeling with radionuclides
• Affibody® molecules are amenable to both chemical synthesis, which may allow for early clinical data, as well as recombinant production, which ensures robust large scale production