18F-αvβ6-BP

18F-αvβ6-BP is an investigational PET/CT radiopharmaceutical developed by the University of California, Davis. It consists of a peptide labeled with the radioisotope fluorine-18 that specifically targets the integrin αvβ6, an epithelium-specific cell surface receptor. While αvβ6 expression is typically low or undetectable in healthy adult tissues, it is significantly upregulated during tissue injury and fibrotic processes, particularly in the lungs. The tracer is being evaluated in clinical trials to detect and monitor the progression or regression of lung damage and fibrosis in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). By binding to αvβ6, the tracer allows for the non-invasive visualization of active lung injury and fibrotic activity via PET/CT imaging, potentially providing more detailed information than standard CT scans.

Other names

18F-alpha-v-beta-6-binding-peptide18F-alpha-v-beta-6-BP