AV-1 binds avidly to β-amyloid

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Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Avid), a product-focused molecular imaging company, today announced the presentation of the first results from a clinical study of 18F-AV-1/ZK (AV-1) a novel radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of amyloid plaques in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Principal investigator Dr. Christopher Rowe from Austin Hospital of Melbourne, a leading investigator in the field of molecular imaging of Alzheimer's disease, presented the results at the 8th International Conference on AD/PD in Salzburg Austria. The goal of this first clinical study was to examine whether PET imaging with AV-1 could be used to distinguish patients with Alzheimer's disease from those with normal cognitive function. AV-1 binds avidly to β-amyloid, the chief constituent of amyloid plaques, which accumulates abnormally in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Rowe reported that PET imaging with AV-1 clearly distinguishes AD from healthy elderly subjects, and may be used to quantify amyloid burden. AV-1 PET scans showed high levels of signal in the Alzheimer's patients, particularly in areas of the brain known to contain amyloid plaques. In contrast there was no retention of AV-1 in the cerebellar cortex, an area where amyloid plaques do not accumulate.

This is the first scientific report of a clinical trial with an 18F-compound designed for specifically imaging amyloid plaques in AD. The wide availability of 18F allows for the possibility of amyloid imaging at a large number of clinical sites worldwide. "We are extremely encouraged by the results of this clinical study with Avid's first compound, AV-1. These data have provided the rationale for Avid's next generation compounds for amyloid imaging, which are now in clinical trials in the United States.", said Daniel Skovronsky, MD, PhD, CEO of Avid.

AV-1 is one of a series of novel compounds discovered in the laboratory of Dr. Hank Kung from the University of Pennsylvania and exclusively licensed to Avid for development and commercialization. The results presented represent a collaborative effort between scientists at Austin Health, the University of Melbourne, Neuroscience Victoria, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, the University of Pennsylvania, and Bayer Schering Pharma. Amyloid imaging may help in identifying those patients who will benefit from these emerging treatments.
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