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July 19, 2001
Nycomed Amersham Imaging and Neurochem collaborate to create Alzheimer's diagnostic.
Companies unite innovative amyloid-based Alzheimer's Disease research with enhanced imaging
technology
Neurochem Inc. (TSX : NRM) and Nycomed Amersham Imaging today announced that the two companies
have agreed to collaborate on the creation of a product for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.
Using Neurochem's proprietary molecules as a basis, the companies will work together on the design
and selection of a product to detect the presence of amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brains
of the Alzheimer's patients. The successful outcome of this joint effort should enable early and
accurate diagnosis of the disease.
"This collaboration provides an exciting opportunity to capitalize on Neurochem's amyloid
targeting technology in molecular imaging," said Dr. Bill Clarke, Executive Vice-President,
Research and Development, Nycomed Amersham Imaging. "The early diagnosis of Alzheimer's
Disease is likely to be a key to the successful application of emerging therapeutics, including
those currently in development at Neurochem, that promise to prevent or slow the progression
of the disease, Within the neuro-imaging field, Nycomed Amersham Imaging in the past year
has consolidated its market presence founded on Ceretec® (technetium Tc-99m exametazime)
used for visualization of cerebral blood flow in stroke patients through its European launch
of DaTSCAN™, a radiopharmaceutical for the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and
related syndromes. An Alzheimer's Disease imaging product will allow us to extend this
established franchise in the field" .
"By entering into this promising collaboration, Nycomed Amersham Imaging recognizes the
potential for beta-amyloid, the target of Neurochem's clinical therapeutic compound, to be
a key marker for Alzheimer's Disease," commented Dr. Louis R. Lamontagne, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Neurochem. "This collaboration provides our two companies with an opportunity
to revolutionize the way this disease is diagnosed and treated."
Under the terms of the collaboration, Neurochem will identify appropriate amyloid-binding
molecules from its library of compounds. Nycomed Amersham Imaging will then synthesize
radio-labeled binding molecules to be used in conjunction with diagnostic imaging tools.
The Goal for this innovative diagnostic will be to enable the early identification of amyloid
plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, even before symptoms of the disease are observed.
Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause of dementia in the aging population, and affects
approximately 4 million people in the U.S. alone. In its early stages, the disease causes only
minor incidences of memory loss or forgetfulness; as it progresses, the symptoms multiply and
intensify, causing the deterioration of both cognitive and motor functioning. Ongoing research
into the underlying mechanisms of the disease has led to the development of therapeutics that
will eventually slow or prevent the effects of the disease process. Stemming from the same area
of research, this diagnostic could be first of its kind.
About Neurochem
Neurochem is a leader in the development of novel, proprietary compounds that inhibit the
formation, deposition and toxic effects of amyloid fibrils within the body. Neurochem's innovative
core technology consists of the design and synthesis of compounds that mimic the properties of
sulphated glycosaminoglycans or GAGs, complex carbohydrates that promote the amyloid fibril formation
that is characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease. Neurochem's synthetic compounds compete with the
naturally occurring GAGs to interfere with the formation and deposition of amyloid aggregates.
This biochemical "deception" has been proven successful in studies showing the compounds
disrupting the formation of indicators of Alzheimer's Disease, and many other detrimental amyloid-based
disease.
Neurochem's research team has been working with international amyloid experts on the development
of therapeutic cures to amyloid-related diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, Secondary Amyloidosis,
Diabetes type II and Hemorrhagic Stroke due to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. Neurochem has advanced
three drug candidates to clinical trials for Alzheimer's Disease, Secondary Amyloidosis and
Hemorrhagic Stroke. At present, the Company employs over 73 people and is located in Saint-Laurent,
Canada (www.neurochem.com).
About Nycomed Amersham Imaging
Nycomed Amersham Imaging is a research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to providing
health care professionals with products that expand and improve their diagnostic capabilities
and contribute to treatment of disease.
Products marketed by Nycomed Amersham Imaging are used in x-ray imaging, computed tomography
(CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and radiopharmaceutical imaging. These are, in
general, ingested or injected into the bloodstream to enhance images of the structure or functioning
of body organs obtained during diagnostic imaging procedures. These enhanced diagnostic images
enable physicians to more accurately detect, diagnose, and treat diseases and functional abnormalities.
In addition, Nycomed Amersham Imaging has nuclear oncology products, some of which are used to
treat localized tumors such as prostate cancer, and another, which is used to treat pain from
cancer that has spread to the bone.
Nycomed Amersham Imaging is committed to finding innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in
cardiology, pulmonology, neurology and oncology. The Company is part of Amersham plc
(NYSE:NYE;LSE: NAM;OSE:NYA), the world leader in in vivo diagnostic imaging and life sciences.
Based in the United Kingdom, the company has annual sales of £1.4 billion (approximately
U.S. $2.1 billion) and around 8,900 employees worldwide.
All of the statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact which
are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking statements. Such
statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve
numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown. Some examples of known risks are: the
impact of general economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes
in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which Neurochem does business, stock
market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to
consolidation or otherwise. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from
the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501
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