Miami, FL – Data presented at the 6th Annual Human Amyloid
Imaging (HAI) meeting in Miami suggest that the investigational imaging agent
[18F] Flutemetamol could add value to current diagnostic tools used by
physicians to evaluate neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers Disease
(AD). [18F]Flutemetamol is a GE Healthcare PET imaging agent in phase III
development for the detection of beta amyloid.
Data presented in two abstracts from a clinical trial of
[18F]Flutemetamol in patients with suspected Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
(NPH), a progressive condition associated with dementia, gait abnormalities and
urinary incontinence, undergoing shunt placement, correlated [18F]Flutemetamol
uptake with histopathological tissue biopsies for beta amyloid in vivo. In a
third abstract from another study, researchers correlated [18F]Flutemetamol
uptake and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in healthy volunteers
and patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Specifically:
- [18F]-Flutemetamol uptake demonstrated a strong concordance
with histopathology in subjects with NPH independent of timing and sequence of
examinations. - [18F]-Flutemetamol PET uptake showed 100 percent sensitivity
and specificity with histopathology in a selected subset of subjects with NPH. - In a subset of patients with MCI, increased
[18F]-Flutemetamol uptake and decreased hippocampal volume were seen in those
with progressive MCI versus those with stable MCI.
“These results support the potential role of
[18F]Flutemetamol in helping physicians detect amyloid deposits in the brain,”
said Jonathan Allis, MI PET Segment Leader, GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics.
“The ability to detect amyloid deposits in the brain could enable physicians to
make a more accurate and earlier diagnosis of Alzheimers Disease.”
The accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain may play a
role leading up to the degeneration of neurons and is one of several biomarkers
implicated in the development of AD. Currently, AD is confirmed by
histopathological identification of tissue biomarkers, including beta amyloid
plaques, in post-mortem brain samples. Targeted imaging agents are
being studied to determine their ability to help physicians detect amyloid deposition
in live humans.
diagnostic solutions that GE Healthcare is currently developing in the
Alzheimers field. The company is taking a comprehensive approach to
understanding AD through its ongoing research to uncover the causes, risks and
physical effects of the disease. GE Healthcares global commitment to advance
clinical knowledge and provide a variety of technologies to aid the fight in
this epidemic may assist physicians in the acceleration of diagnosis and
improvement of treatment decisions in all stages of the disease.
The company already offers a range of imaging modalities
used by physicians to assist in the detection of AD and dementia (CT, MRI, PET,
SPECT) and has been a key contributor to the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging
Initiative (ADNI) since its inception. GE Healthcare also plays a key role in
PredictAD, an EU-funded research project to develop solutions to enable earlier
diagnosis of AD. In addition, GE has formed the Making an Impact on
Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND) Coalition, a multidisciplinary,
multi-stakeholder body that aims to fill the gaps in the understanding and
management of AD and Parkinsons disease.
ABOUT GE
GE works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies
taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and
home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the
world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the
company’s website at www.ge.com.
ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that
are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical
imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring
systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies,
performance improvement, and performance solutions services helps our
customers deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost.
In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving
to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a
successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our “healthymagination” vision for the future
invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop
innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access, and improving
quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a
unit of General Electric Company. Worldwide, GE
Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and
their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE
Healthcare, visit our web site at www.gehealthcare.com.
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT
