Health and Welbeing
First patient
included in DiaGenic and GE Healthcare project to develop a blood test
for Mild Cognitive Impairment, associated with Alzheimer’s
Thursday, 07 June 2012
DiaGenic ASA [OSL:DIAG] today announced that the first patient with MCI
(Mild Cognitive Impairment) was examined with [18F] Flutemetamol PET
imaging at University of Lund Sweden in the DiaGenic and GE Healthcare
Research Collaboration announced March 27th 2012. First patient
examined with PET imaging means that the clinical phase of the
collaboration has been initiated.
The study aims to develop a blood-based gene expression profile in
patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to be used in conjunction
with PET imaging of the brain. The PET imaging agent, [18F]
Flutemetamol, is currently in phase 3 development and is not yet
approved by any regulatory authority.
The aim of the project is to recruit 180 individuals with amnestic MCI,
together with 30 patients with clinically diagnosed mild to moderate
AD.
About Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the Alzheimer's Association, deaths attributed to the
disease have increased by more than 46% between 2000 and 2006. Today,
in the US alone, 5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s disease, and the
annual cost of the disease is $172 billion. It is the 6thleading cause
of death, and its mortality rates are expected to rise as the baby
boomer population ages. In last year’s World Alzheimer Report,
Alzheimer’s Disease International estimated that there are 35.6 million
people living with dementia worldwide in 2010, increasing to 65.7
million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.
Based on a press release
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