Neoprobe Licenses AstraZeneca Imaging Agent for Amyloid Detection to Aid Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

December 12, 2011 - Neoprobe Corporation (NYSE Amex: NEOP) announced that it has in-licensed the worldwide exclusive rights from AstraZeneca to the late-stage radiopharmaceutical imaging candidate, AZD4694, for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

AZD4694 is a Fluorine-18 labeled precision radiopharmaceutical candidate for use in the imaging and evaluation of patients with signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment such as AD. It binds to Beta-amyloid deposits in the brain that can then be imaged in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Amyloid plaque pathology is a required feature of AD diagnosis and the presence of amyloid pathology is a supportive feature for diagnosis of probable AD. Patients who are negative for amyloid pathology do not have AD.

Clinical studies in more than 70 patients suggest that AZD4694 has the ability to image patients quickly and safely with high sensitivity. Importantly, AZD4694 exhibits low background and white matter uptake, thereby providing clear images of Beta-amyloid deposits. Neoprobe intends to initiate a Phase III clinical program in early 2013, while simultaneously building the requisite safety and training database. Patents and patent applications filed around the world related to AZD4694 are effective until 2028... [PDF] Neoprobe's Press Release -

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma : launch of Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Donepezil hydrochloride tablets/OD tablets 3mg/5mg “DSP”

November 28, 2011 - Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (DSP) (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Masayo Tada) announces the launch of Alzheimer's disease treatment Donepezil hydrochloride tablets/OD tablets 3mg/5mg “DSP” in Japan, as of December 2, 2011.

In domestic pharmaceuticals, DSP designates the Central Nervous System field as one of its focus marketing areas, and offers various treatments such as atypical antipsychotics "LONASEN® " and "LULLAN® ", Parkinson's disease drug "TRERIEF® ", norepinephrine-activating neural function ameliorant "DOPS® ", anti-epileptic drug "EXCEGRAN® ", and serotonin-agonist antianxiety drug "SEDIEL® ". Approximately 230 CNS MRs in the CNS Sales & Marketing Division newly established in April 2011 are developing activities to provide information on these products.

DSP decided to handle a CNS generic drug as part of a plan to strengthen its product lineup in the CNS area. On June 24, 2011, DSP created “Established Products & Chain Pharmacies Groups” dedicated to generic drugs in the CNS area under CNS Sales and Marketing, each under the CNS Higashi-Nippon Region, CNS Capital Region, CNS Kinki-Tokai Region and CNS Nishi-Nippon Region with the aim to promote sales of generic drugs in the CNS area... [PDF] Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma's Press Release -