Mvtpharma
1 known investors
MVT develops patented microbubble and nanobubble formulations used as ultrasound contrast agents and for ultrasound-mediated therapies, with a lead product (MVT-100) for echocardiography that has completed Phase II trials. Its pipeline spans diagnostic imaging and treatment applications including brain, pancreatic and breast cancer, sonothrombolysis, and Alzheimer's disease.
Also known as Microvascular Therapeutics · Microvascular Therapeutics, Inc. · MVT · MVT Pharma
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Microvascular Therapeutics (operating as MVT Pharma, mvtpharma.com) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Tucson, Arizona, working on ultrasound contrast agents and theranostics. Its lead program, MVT-100, is a patented microbubble formulation for use as an ultrasound contrast agent in echocardiography that has completed Phase II clinical trials. MVT-100 uses a neutral surface chemistry intended to serve as a platform for molecular imaging and image-guided therapy agents, and is designed for room-temperature storage and to avoid the back-pain side effect associated with the incumbent agent Definity. The company reports formal FDA guidance on the regulatory pathway for MVT-100.
Beyond the lead diagnostic asset, MVT maintains a pre-clinical pipeline spanning both diagnostics and ultrasound-mediated therapy: MVT-101 for non-thermal brain tumor ablation using phase shift microbubbles combined with magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS); MVT-201, thrombin-targeted nanobubbles for sonothrombolysis in myocardial microvascular obstruction, stroke, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; MVT-301 for dissolution of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease; MVT-401 for detection of small pancreatic cancers; MVT-501 for improved detection and differentiation of breast cancer on routine ultrasound; and MVT-601, an E-selectin targeted microbubble for diagnosis of uveitis with potential drug-delivery applications in macular degeneration. Most programs are described as covered by issued patents, with additional patents pending and one in-licensed asset. MVT also states it holds a right of reference to data on microbubble-enhanced sonothrombolysis using perflutren and exclusive rights to condensed phase shift microbubbles.
Founding story
Microvascular Therapeutics was founded in 2009 by Evan Unger, who serves as Founder and CEO. The company states that its founders previously developed Definity, described as the world's top-selling ultrasound contrast agent, and positions MVT-100 as an improvement on that product through room-temperature storage and elimination of back pain as a side effect.
Traction
MVT-100 has completed Phase II clinical trials and the company reports formal FDA guidance on its regulatory pathway. Several pipeline programs are backed by issued patents, with research on brain tumor ablation conducted in partnership with the University of Utah and funded by the National Cancer Institute, and the sonothrombolysis program supported by a $4 million Department of Defense grant. The company was named a winner and Fan Favorite in Pepperdine Graziadio Business School's 2025 Most Fundable Companies list, selected from more than 2,300 early-stage US startups.
Latest developments
In September 2025, Microvascular Therapeutics was recognized among the winners of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School's 8th annual Most Fundable Companies list, and received a Fan Favorite designation.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, risks & controversies
Market position
The company describes itself as a clinical-stage pioneer in ultrasound contrast agents and theranostics, positioning its pipeline against multi-billion-dollar cardiovascular, oncology and neurology markets. It frames MVT-100 as an improvement on Definity, the incumbent market-leading ultrasound contrast agent.
Technology
MVT's technology is based on patented microbubble and nanobubble formulations for ultrasound. The lead agent MVT-100 has a neutral surface chemistry intended to act as a platform for molecular imaging and image-guided therapy, and is formulated for room-temperature storage. Therapeutic programs use phase shift microbubbles (PSMB) with magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound for non-thermal tumor ablation, thrombin-targeted nanobubbles for sonothrombolysis, nanobubbles plus ultrasound for amyloid plaque dissolution, and targeted microbubbles (including E-selectin targeting) for disease-specific detection.
Go-to-market
Programs target clinical imaging and therapeutic use cases in echocardiography, oncology (brain, pancreatic and breast cancer), vascular thrombosis, ophthalmology and neurology, implying hospital and diagnostic imaging providers and their patients as end users.
Geography
Headquartered at 1635 E 18th St, Tucson, Arizona, United States.
Risks & controversies
Public sources describe differing regulatory pathway characterizations for MVT-100: the company's own site states it received formal FDA guidance that MVT-100 is regulated via the 505(b)(1) pathway, while a third-party company profile describes development via the 505(b)(2) pathway. Most pipeline programs remain pre-clinical and depend on grant funding and academic partnerships.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsMicrovascular Therapeutics, Inc. of Tucson, AZ was named a winner and Fan Favorite on Pepperdine Graziadio Business School's 2025 Most Fundable Companies list, selected from more than 2,300 early-stage US startups.
The MVT-201 thrombin-targeted nanobubble sonothrombolysis program is supported by a $4 million Department of Defense grant, per the company's website.
$4M source ↗
MVT-101 research on non-thermal brain tumor ablation using phase shift microbubbles with MRgFUS is conducted in partnership with the University of Utah and funded by the National Cancer Institute.
The company states it received formal guidance from the FDA that MVT-100 is regulated via the 505(b)(1) pathway; MVT-100 has completed Phase II clinical trials for echocardiography.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Mvtpharmamvtpharma.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Mvtpharma do?
- Tucson-based clinical-stage biotech developing patented ultrasound microbubble and nanobubble agents for imaging and therapy.
- Who are Mvtpharma's investors?
- Mvtpharma's investors include Utah Innovation Fund.