A new study into the potential use of a tau-PET tracer for Alzheimer’s disease has produced promising results. The data was presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease Conference, which took part in Spain in late October. To read about the study in more detail, you can view the source press release by AC Immune SA here, at Globe Newswire.
About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. It’s a progressive condition that affects the functioning of the brain. One of the hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease is tau, which forms into neurofibrillary tangles in patients’ brains. Read more about Alzheimer’s disease and its effects by clicking here.
About Tau PET-Tracers
According to AC Immune’s article, tau PET-tracers are an experimental tool that may be used to assess the levels and distribution of tau in the brain. They are thought to work by introducing an agent that can travel to the brain and bind with tau tangles. Then, using a PET scan, researchers can create an image that shows the amount and locations of abnormal tau in the brain. However, AC Immune say that no tau PET-tracers have been approved by regulators for commercial distribution yet.
A Recent Tau PET-Tracer Study
New research into the investigational tau PET-tracer 18F-PI-2620 has produced promising results, with positive data about the technology’s ability to detect and measure tau disposition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and controls. The test-retest study, carried out by AC Immune’s partner Life Molecular Imaging, reports that the tracer was able to selectively bind to the right proteins, with low levels of off-target binding. Based on these results, the company has announced that it plans to expand their investigations of the compound in clinical trials.
