Siemens Medical Solutions Collaborates with Wyeth to Advance Development of New Alzheimer's Therapies
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., and COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., March 5, 2007 - The Molecular Imaging division of Siemens Medical Solutions a leading provider of molecular imaging equipment, molecular imaging tracers and services, today announced an agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), to utilize Siemens' new research imaging agent in Wyeth's clinical studies of new therapies in development for Alzheimer's disease.
"Molecular imaging is rapidly becoming an important element in the drug research and development process," said Michael Reitermann, president, Molecular Imaging, Siemens Medical Solutions. "Molecular imaging is already revolutionizing the detection and diagnosis of diseases like Alzheimer's; and now, it is becoming an indispensable component in the development of exciting new drug therapies, improving patient health."
Molecular imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), use imaging agents to non-invasively characterize metabolic activity in cells by visually "lighting up" energy consuming cells. The technique allows doctors to visualize and quantify the biology of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Siemens' new Alzheimer's imaging agent - which recently received FDA clearance to begin phase I clinical trials - is designed to work differently by specifically seeking out and identifying the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neuronal tangles in the brain - the definitive hallmarks of the disease that cause cell disruption and death. If clinical trials are successful and FDA clearance is obtained, the imaging agent could enable doctors to identify the areas of the brain affected by amyloid plaque deposition and neuronal tangle formation, and also differentiate it from other neurological diseases - a first in the imaging of neurological disorders.
PET molecular imaging is one of the fastest growing areas of imaging for both research and clinical applications. As the demand increases for more advanced imaging tracer development programs, Siemens actively engages with academic and pharmaceutical partners to produce technologies that will ultimately advance diagnosis and treatment. Siemens' investments in molecular imaging technologies and imaging tracers help characterize, quantify and visualize the biology of disease.
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics - such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics - mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30). Further information can be found by visiting www.siemens.com/medical.