A new class of molecular imaging
Lutroo Imaging is a clinical-stage molecular imaging company developing PET radiotracers targeting voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs). NaVs play important roles in cancer, pain, neurological disease, and other conditions, yet their activity has never been directly accessible through clinical imaging. Our goal is to make this biology visible, enabling better diagnosis, patient selection, treatment decisions, and drug development.
Critical disease biology remains invisible
Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) are essential for normal function throughout the body, controlling electrical signaling in nerves, muscles, the heart, and other cells. When NaV expression or activity becomes abnormal, it is associated with cancer, chronic pain, neurological disorders, cardiac disease, and many other conditions. Yet this important NaV biology remains invisible to conventional imaging. Lutroo is developing imaging tools to see it for the first time.
adults suffer from chronic pain worldwide
new cancer cases worldwide each year
people worldwide have a neurological condition
of drugs entering clinical development fail
Radiocaine™: Imaging NaV biology
Cancer
Detect and characterize NaV-expressing tumors
Pain
Identify and localize pain generators
Drug Development
Stratify patients and objectively measure therapeutic response
Targeting voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs)
Radiocaine™ is a PET imaging agent designed to detect NaVs, proteins that help control electrical activity and other important functions in cells. Changes in NaV activity are associated with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, pain, and neurological conditions. Radiocaine™ could allow doctors to see where NaVs are active in the body, providing information that conventional imaging cannot. This could help identify and characterize disease, guide treatment decisions, and measure response to therapy.
Tony’s pain journey
"I understand the struggles of chronic pain firsthand. After a back injury, I went from climbing one of the world’s highest peaks to being unable to hold my newborn daughter. An MRI showed a disc tear in my lower spine, and after three years of failed treatments, surgery was recommended. A new evaluation found the pain actually came from my pelvis, likely due to a change in my gait from the disc tear. Once the right issue was treated, my pain significantly improved. If RadiocaineTM had been available, the real source could have been identified sooner, saving time, resources, and improving my quality of life. Millions still suffer without an accurate diagnosis."
RadiocaineTM clinical development
Selected accomplishments to date
RadiocaineTM Proof-of-Concept
Proof-of-concept that RadiocaineTM is an accurate, objective pain measurement and localization tool (published December 2022 in ACS Chemical Neuroscience)
2022 Winner of the AAPM-MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge
Lutroo Imaging beat out 70 other startups and early-stage companies to take home the grand prize at the inaugural American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) and MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge
2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Finalist
Lutroo Imaging was selected from over 1,100 startups, to be part of the 2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Accelerator Program
Pre-clinical studies completed Q2 2023
Phase 1 clinical trial launched Q2 2025
NIH HEAL Initiative grant recipient
Funding for early-stage clinical trials
Awards
Lutroo Imaging took home the grand prize at the inaugural American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) and MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge.
Lutroo Imaging was selected from over 1,100 startups, to be part of the 2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Accelerator Program.
In 2023, Lutroo Imaging was awarded research funding through the NIH HEAL Initiative, recognizing their commitment to advancing pain research and treatment solutions.
Testimonials
Read testimonials from doctors and specialists who understand the potential benefits of RadiocaineTM
"Lutroo’s work on visualizing and measuring pain in vivo could guide personalized therapies, enhance presurgical planning, and complement existing diagnostics. RadiocaineTM may also improve patient selection for clinical trials and treatment monitoring. The compound shows promise for diagnosing and treating chronic pain and other conditions, warranting further exploration."
M.D., Ph.D.
“As a radiologist, I see tremendous potential for imaging voltage-gated sodium channels. Radiocaine™ could provide a powerful new window into disease biology that is not available with standard imaging today, helping physicians better identify and characterize disease, guide treatment decisions, and measure response to therapy.”
M.D.
Meet the team
Braxton is an experienced biomedical entrepreneur. He has led drug/radiotracer development projects from discovery to Phase II clinical trials.
Tony is a Biomedical Engineer and Critical Care RN. Co-founder of Redpoint Imaging (PET radiotracer production for an underserved market).
Donald is former Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President at the American College of Radiology. Co-founder of RadPharm, an international medical imaging core lab (acquired in 2008).
David served as CMO at Radiopharm Theranostics and previously as Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Weill Cornell’s Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center. Former VP of Imaging at Endocyte, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
This website may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events, business strategies, financial results, and other expectations. These statements are based on current assumptions and beliefs, and while they reflect Lutroo’s outlook, actual outcomes may differ materially due to factors beyond our control. We do not undertake any obligation to update these statements to reflect changes in circumstances or unforeseen events. Please consider all associated risks and uncertainties before making decisions based on these forward-looking statements.