NEW YORK, May 2, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA) and Amersham (NYSE:AHM) (LSE:AHM) (OSE:AHM), a world leader in medical diagnostics and in life sciences, are hosting today a groundbreaking meeting to discuss the development of cutting-edge Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging products for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Leading experts on the molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease from research institutions around the world gathered in New York to debate the clinical, economic and ethical implications of earlier and more accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, and the challenges of getting new diagnostics licensed. Participants also included senior executives from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic and insurance industries.
Gary Small, M.D., from the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and one of the key speakers at the meeting, said, "Alzheimer's disease is progressive and degenerating, afflicting over four million people in the US. We know that the amyloid plaque associated with the disease starts forming at least a decade or more before symptoms are obvious. The new PET techniques we are discussing today enable us to see, for the first time, amyloid plaque in living patients, so we can now assess the pace of cell destruction in the brain's memory centers. These new PET diagnostic tools could lead to improved diagnosis and assessment of disease progression, as well as more effective therapeutic strategies."
Bill Clarke, MD, Executive Vice President, R&D, Amersham, and co-chair of the meeting, said, "In Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, public policy is lagging behind medical advances. Next-generation PET diagnostics could be available in as few as five years' time, transforming the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. However, currently, the only FDA-accepted reference point for registering a PET Alzheimer's disease diagnostic appears to be use of autopsy as the gold standard. Consequently, scientists, physicians, industry, payors and regulators need to work together to remove these significant hurdles impeding the development of important new Alzheimer's disease molecular diagnostics."
Howard Fillit, MD, Executive Director of the ISOA, and meeting co-chair, said, "Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to quality care in Alzheimer's disease. New methods of prevention of Alzheimer's disease are also on the horizon, making preclinical diagnosis critically important. PET amyloid imaging has the potential to revolutionize early diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease and the technology is rapidly advancing to a stage of practicality. This is the first time that many groups with an interest in the molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease have been brought together. A product of the meeting will be a White Paper to be published in a scientific journal based on the discussions today, with clear recommendations for action on this important public policy issue."
About The Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA)
ISOA is a biomedical venture philanthropy whose mission is to catalyze and fund the discovery and development of new therapies to prevent and treat cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease. Since 1998, ISOA has committed more than $17 million in support of 80 research projects at leading academic institutions and biotechnology companies in seven countries. ISOA is a New York-based private foundation established by the Estee Lauder Trust. Mrs. Estee Lauder is the Honorary Director. Co-founders Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald. S. Lauder serve as Co-Presidents. For more information about ISOA visit www.aging-institute.org.
About Amersham
Amersham is a world leader in medical diagnostics and in life sciences. Headquartered in the UK, the company had annual sales of $2.5 billion in 2002 and has around 10,000 employees worldwide. Amersham's strategy is to build its position as a leading provider of products and technologies enabling disease to be better understood, diagnosed earlier and treated more effectively. An Amersham diagnostic product is used somewhere in the world every single second.
Amersham -- bringing vision to medical discovery For additional information, visit www.amersham.com