Banner Alzheimer's Institute and AstraZeneca expand Alzheimer's disease collaboration
PHOENIX, Ariz. WILMINGTON, Del.(May 20, 2009) – The Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced that they have signed a new collaboration agreement to validate and further develop [18F]-AZD4694 as a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer’s patients.
[18F]-AZD4694 is a radioligand targeted to bind with high specificity to amyloid plaque - protein deposits in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
[18F]-AZD4694 is one of a series of radioligand biomarkers discovered by AstraZeneca.
The high specificity allows the plaque to be measured in living people using a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. These scans could then be used to potentially diagnose cerebral amyloid deposits, monitor the effectiveness of Alzheimer’s disease treatments, reveal new therapeutic targets and enhance understanding of novel ways to curtail disease progression.
The new collaboration builds on an existing collaboration agreement between the two parties, announced in December 2007.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute will carry out evaluations to validate [18F]-AZD4694. AstraZeneca will retain full ownership rights to the compound. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Eric Reiman, MD, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, said “Initial studies have indicated that [18F]-AZD4694 binds more specifically to amyloid plaques than other PET ligands. We are excited about the chance to examine this possibility further, to help clarify the ligand’s role in the clinical diagnosis, early detection and tracking of Alzheimer’s disease, and to consider its utility in the evaluation of promising Alzheimer’s disease-slowing and prevention therapies.”
Bob Holland, vice president for Neuroscience at AstraZeneca, said “We are delighted to be expanding our fruitful collaboration with the world-class researchers at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to validate [18F]-AZD4694. We will now build on the findings we have gained through our research to date with our PET radioligands, with the aim of bringing [18F]-AZD4694 to benefit patients as soon as possible.”
About Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies and social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today, it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
About Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
The Banner Alzheimer’s Institute provides clinical care for patients with memory and thinking problems. It also offers education, referral and support services for family and caregivers, and conducts leading-edge research in clinical trials, brain imaging and genetics studies. The Institute is devoted to finding effective Alzheimer’s disease-slowing and prevention treatments in the shortest time possible. Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a nonprofit organization. For more information about Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, please visit www.banneralz.org.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and in the supply of healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with global healthcare sales of $ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $13.5 billion health care business.
For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com.
Media Contacts:
Jamie Smith, AstraZeneca: +1 302 885 5725
Greg Sexton, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute: +1 (480) 998 2600 x555
