DiaGenic, GE combine genes and imaging for AD

Alzheimer's disease biomarkers feature regularly in FierceBiomarkers, from mitochondrial changes to beta-amyloid expression. Taking a combined approach, Norwegian company DiaGenic is uniting its expertise in peripheral gene expression profiling with GE Healthcare's PET imaging expertise in a collaboration to create a blood-based test to check for Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The potential test will use GE's PET imaging agent [18F] flutemetamol, which is in Phase III trials, and could help point out early-stage disease, improving support and treatment choices for these vulnerable patients. "For this project, we aim to recruit 180 individuals with amnestic MCI, together with 30 patients with clinically diagnosed mild to moderate AD," said Dr. Oskar Hansson of Lund University and Skåne University Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "Clinical assessment together with high-quality blood and imaging tests for the very early stages of AD will bring tremendous value to the clinicians and drug developers." Release