NEO Agent (NIR)

NEO Agent (NIR) is a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging agent developed by NeoIndicate for the intraoperative visualization of brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma (GBM). The agent utilizes SBK peptides, which are derived from the extracellular domain of protein tyrosine phosphatase mu (PTPµ/PTPRM), conjugated to a near-infrared fluorophore. In malignant tissues, PTPµ undergoes proteolysis, resulting in the accumulation of extracellular fragments within the tumor microenvironment. The SBK peptide probes bind homophilically to these fragments, enabling the specific labeling of tumor cells and invading glioma cells that are typically difficult to distinguish from healthy brain tissue using conventional imaging. This targeted approach facilitates real-time, image-guided surgery, potentially improving the extent of surgical resection and patient outcomes. The technology was originally developed at Case Western Reserve University and is currently in preclinical development.

Other names

NEO Agent (fluorescent imaging)NEO Agent (optical NIR)PTPµ-targeted NIR fluorescent probeSBK-NIR