The press release by Schering AG of Germany and Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc. of Philadelphia, PA talks about the joint collaboration by these companies “to develop novel diagnostic imaging agents for Alzheimer’s disease.” The future contrast agents will be based on proprietary technology from Avid:
The compounds made by Avid directly bind to the amyloid plaques in the brain thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease. They can be used with a variety of common, non-invasive imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. The potential of this compound class to accumulate preferentially in brain structures of Alzheimer’s patients with high amyloid beta load has already been demonstrated in pilot human studies.
From Avid technology page (see pictures above and below):
Avid’s Alzheimer’s disease program is based on the hypothesis that in vivo detection of amyloid plaques by positron emission computed tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging would provide useful biomarkers for monitoring and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. To test this hypothesis, we have developed novel radiolabeled compounds that specifically and sensitively bind A b (the chief constituent of amyloid plaques), and are testing these compounds as molecular imaging agents in preclinical and clinical trials.
Press release…
Technology page at Avid…
(hat tip: MTB Europe)