GE Healthcare and pharmaceutical firm Merck have announced that they will collaborate on imaging biomarker research.
The two firms plan to collaborate on a clinical development program that will include use of F-18 flutemetamol, an investigational PET imaging agent, to support Merck's development of MK-8931, an oral beta-amyloid precursor protein site-cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor and Merck's lead investigational candidate for Alzheimer's disease. The deal includes a license and supply agreement.
Under the agreement, GE will supply F-18 flutemetamol to help select patients for clinical trials and evaluate the agent as a companion diagnostic tool. A joint Merck and GE Healthcare imaging advisory committee will oversee the planned imaging studies, the companies said.
