First U.S. Commercial Neuraceq Scan for Beta-amyloid Plaque Imaging Performed at WVU Healthcare

August 14, 2014 ? Piramal Imaging announced that WVU Healthcare in West Virginia, is the first center in the United States to perform commercial scans using Neuraceq. Neuraceq became available for commercial use on Aug. 1, marking the first time patients are able to receive Neuraceq scans in the United States outside of research studies.

Neuraceq, which received marketing authorization in the European Union and in the United States earlier this year, is a radiopharmaceutical indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain to estimate beta-amyloid neuritic plaque density in adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other causes of cognitive decline. A negative beta-amyloid scan may help rule out AD as a cause of a patient’s cognitive decline. A positive Neuraceq scan indicates moderate to frequent amyloid neuritic plaques; neuropathological examination has shown this amount of amyloid neuritic plaque is present in patients with AD, but may also be present in patients with other types of neurologic conditions as well as older people with normal cognition. Prior to the availability of this technology a confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of AD could only be accomplished through autopsy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neuraceq earlier this year.  Neuraceq scans will be available commercially for referring physicians and patients across the United States in the coming weeks and months.

”At WVU Healthcare, we are making history as the first center in the U.S. to offer patients access to beta-amyloid imaging with florbetaben without enrolling in a research trial,” said Gary D. Marano, medical director of nuclear medicine and PET/CT. “For us as clinicians, it’s a new diagnostic option to offer patients and referring physicians in cases of cognitive decline and concerns for Alzheimer’s disease.”

“As a company dedicated to innovation in molecular imaging, it was important to deliver Neuraceq into hands of trained dementia experts as soon as possible to start advancing treatment options and improving patient outcomes.” said Friedrich Gause, COO, Piramal Imaging. “We view this as an important milestone but just the beginning of our work to bring beta-amyloid imaging to the U.S. patient population.”

For more information: www.piramal.com/imaging