New Molecular Imaging Agents in Study Using Advanced PET Brain Imaging Aim for Earlier Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Detection and Treatment

JENKINTOWN, Pa. – March 9 – The Philadelphia-area's leading free-standing PET/CT center is the hub for research on earlier detection of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease using a new generation of molecular imaging agents and a high sensitivity, experimental research PET brain scanner to reveal amyloid plaque, which is a strong indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

"With earlier detection, we hope to dramatically improve patients' lives through emerging, experimental treatments that, when applied earlier in the course of disease, may halt the progression of these diseases, and possibly reverse them,” explained Lee P. Adler, M.D., Medical Director and founder of the Adler Institute for Advanced Imaging, where this breakthrough research is taking place.

Early diagnosis using molecular imaging is possible because of investigational radioactive "tracer” chemicals that bond inside the brain to markers for specific diseases (such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease), coupled with high tech scanners that produce 3-D images of these disease-specific diagnostics distributed within the brain.

The Adler Institute for Advanced Imaging in Jenkintown is the hub for research combining these leading-edge technologies for diagnosis and monitoring Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. "At present there is no easy way to test for Alzheimer's disease; accurate diagnosis generally does not occur until autopsy” Adler said. Adler is collaborating with West Philadelphia-based Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Massachusetts-based PhotoDetection Systems (PDS), Meadowbrook Neurology Group in Montgomery County, and Wilmington, Delaware-based Radiologist Dr. Steven Edell of Edell Radiology Management, LLC. The team is using an advanced, dedicated brain PET (positron emission tomography) scanner developed by PDS and novel brain imaging PET tracers developed by Avid. Adler Imaging was selected by PDS and Avid because of Adler Imaging's previous leadership role in Avid's recent and ongoing clinical trials, as well as Dr. Adler's reputation as a world leader in applying advanced instrumentation to the newly emerging field of molecular imaging.

The Adler Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital are the only facilities that have the PDS NeuroPET, a new, dedicated brain PET system currently under development. Because its high sensitivity provides high quality brain scans using lower doses of radioactive agents, patients can undergo more frequent diagnostic scans to monitor response to therapy. Further, the Avid AV-45 imaging compound is designed to provide higher quality imaging results at lower radioactive doses. Working together, the investigators hope to someday allow the widespread application of PET imaging for neurology applications. These research experiments promise significantly better diagnostic results, deliver far less risk exposure, and will hopefully allow more widespread availability of PET imaging for neurological applications - just as the emergence of new, more highly targeted imaging agents for specific neurologic disorders greatly expands demand for PET imaging of the brain.

"The PDS NeuroPET's high sensitivity, compact design, and clinical research capabilities should allow brain imaging to be more widely available as companies such as Avid are developing a new generation of molecular imaging agents to target specific neurological diseases,” Adler said.

About Adler Institute for Advanced Imaging

The Adler Institute for Advanced Imaging is the leading free-standing, PET/CT center in the Greater Delaware Valley, providing the latest innovations in medical imaging in a welcoming, patient-focused setting. Adler Imaging's advanced technology combines positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) technology, commonly known as PET/CT. This technology has the ability to detect the smallest change in a cell's function earlier, and with more accuracy than ever before, giving doctors a map of the patient's condition with the greatest structural detail possible. This helps physicians to determine the best treatment plan and how to monitor the patient's progress.

Adler, the on-site medical director, is an internationally recognized leader in PET and PET/CT. An early pioneer in PET development and applications, Adler brought the first PET/CT to the Philadelphia area in 2001. Adler has been reading and interpreting patient PET scans since 1987, before the technology was widely used, and performing and interpreting PET/CT scans longer than anyone in the Philadelphia area. He personally reviews patient records and consults with referring physicians to ensure that each study is tailored to each patient's individual needs. More information about Adler Imaging is available at www.adlerimaging.com

About Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc.

Based in Philadelphia , Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc. is a leader in the development of products with the potential for earlier and more effective detection, diagnosis and monitoring of brain disorders. The company is a pioneer in the development of molecular imaging agents for Alzheimer's disease that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better evaluation of drugs designed to prevent or reverse amyloid plaque build-up in the brain. Avid is currently enrolling patients in clinical studies of 18F-PET agents for imaging amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease and for imaging the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) in diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM). More information about Avid is available at www.avidrp.com.

About PhotoDetection Systems

Founded at Boston University's Photonics Center in 1999, PhotoDetection Systems (PDS) is committed to delivering the highest quality PET imaging at the lowest dose for research and clinical use. PDS' growing team works in an ISO 13485-certified facility with R&D, Operations and Customer Support Services under one roof. The PDS mission is to provide PET imaging technologies to the research and clinical communities that may enable development of effective treatments, monitoring, and early detection of disease. PDS has developed the NeuroPET to serve the brain imaging needs of the clinical research community. NeuroPET is available only for research use until FDA clearance. More information about PhotoDetection Systems is available at www.photodetection.com

For more information, please contact Bill Mitchell at PDS:  978-266-0420 x146