Contrast agent developer Alzeca Biosciences said that its ADx nanoparticle technology has shown promise in preclinical preliminary studies for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease on MRI scans.
In testing on mice, ADx nanoparticles demonstrated they could carry an encapsulated imaging agent across the blood-brain barrier and bind to amyloid plaques, Alzeca said. Researchers then used ordinary MR scanners to obtain high-resolution images of these plaques, according to the company. The study was published May 10 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Given these results and other successful preliminary toxicity studies, Alzeca said it now plans to accelerate the development and testing of ADx. It hopes to begin clinical trials in humans in 2018. Alzeca believes ADx could identify Alzheimer's disease a decade before the onset of symptoms.
In addition, Alzeca said it's exploring the further potential of the underlying platform of ADx. By modifying the platform to different brain targets, it could also be used to image and diagnose other neurodegenerative diseases and even as a drug delivery system, the company said.
