AbbVie
At AbbVie, we are committed to helping those living with and affected by neurodegenerative diseases and recognize that advancing research benefits from a collaborative approach. Synaptic loss is associated with clinical symptoms in many brain disorders. We are excited to work with our partners to evaluate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) as a potential biomarker of synaptic density. Our hope is that this work will accelerate the development of novel therapies for these difficult-to-treat diseases.”
Eric Karran, Ph.D.
Vice President, Neuroscience Discovery Research
AbbVie
Alkermes, Inc.
As part of Alkermes’ values, we pursue great science with deep compassion, as we strive to deliver real impact for patients. Participating in the SV2A PET Biomarker Project is indicative of our commitment to patient-centered research and our belief that exploring the validation of clinical biomarkers may help to advance the scientific investigation of central nervous system diseases and treatment response in patients.”
Daniel Smith, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Translational Medicine
Alkermes
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to speeding the development of the most promising biomarkers, which are essential to pushing Alzheimer’s drug research forward, ensuring the right patients are enrolled in clinical trials and allowing us to measure their response to treatment. This is why we are excited to be a part of the consortium of non-profits and pharmaceutical companies convened by FNIH that have come together to validate SV2A as a biomarker of synaptic health in Alzheimer’s disease.”
Howard Fillit, M.D.
Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
Biogen MA Inc.
Over the past two decades, new imaging technologies have enabled scientists and physicians to look into the brain of living patients using biomarkers that directly measure brain pathology. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A Positron Emission Tomography (SV2A-PET) has been proposed as a biomarker of synaptic health in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As part of Biogen’s commitment to advance research and treatments for patients with AD, we are proud to support the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium Project on SV2A-PET in AD. This pre-competitive consortium will combine resources across industry and top-tier academic institutions to address a critical knowledge gap surrounding the biological underpinnings of in-vivo SV2A PET signals, and thereby accelerate the potential application of SV2A-PET as an AD treatment response marker in disease-modifying clinical trials.”
John Beaver, Ph.D.
Head of Biomarkers
Biogen
BrightFocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation is honored to partner on such an exciting project, testing the SV2A biomarker. It holds great promise to be a bold, innovative step forward to an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of dementia. This collaborative model bringing together corporate, government, and philanthropic leaders reflects our shared commitment to accelerate scientific progress to better help the millions of families impacted by this disease.”
Diane Bovenkamp, Ph.D.
Vice President of Scientific Affairs
BrightFocus Foundation
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
At Janssen, we recognize the importance of furthering biomarker research to deepen our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. We are proud to collaborate with industry partners on the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health’s (FNIH) project. Through these kinds of public-private collaborations, we hope to better recognize the complexities of the disease and address long-standing unmet needs of patients.”
Hartmuth Kolb
Vice President, Neuroscience Biomarkers and Janssen R&D Global Imaging
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The National Institute of Mental Health is excited to support efforts to validate this new imaging tool, which promises unprecedented insight into synaptic function, a key component of brain health. If validated, this SV2A tracer could significantly improve our ability to understand and treat a range of brain-based disorders.”
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
National Institute of Mental Health
Sage Therapeutics Inc
At Sage, we are committed to putting patients and their families first. Participating in the FNIH SV2A PET biomarker project is a way to effectively develop new medicines to treat life-altering brain health disorders. Validating novel biomarkers that capture loss of synapses will certainly help advance novel therapies to help those suffering from neuropsychiatric conditions.”
Patricio O’Donnell
Vice President and Head, Translational Medicine
Sage Therapeutics Inc
Sanofi
Having a validated tracer to track synapse loss would be a key enabler for multiple neurological diseases. We are thrilled to be part of the solution, collaborating with public and private partners to accelerate therapeutic development for these devastating diseases.”
Pablo Sardi
Global Head of Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research
Sanofi
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
In line with Takeda’s purpose to create better health for people and a brighter future for the world, we are excited to be part of the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium Project to validate a new PET imaging tool for synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) as a biomarker of synaptic health, which will support the development of novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Johannes Tauscher, M.D.
VP & Global Head, Imaging
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh
For the past 15 years, we’ve been investigating why connections between neurons are lost in Alzheimer’s disease – a phenomenon linked closely to worsening symptoms like memory loss. We’re excited to be working with FNIH to test whether a brain scan marker can be used to track the loss of these connections, also known as synapses, in the condition. Finding an accurate method to measure synapse number and loss will be hugely important for determining whether new treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Tara Spires-Jones, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurodegeneration, Deputy Director Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences
UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh
Yale University
SV2A-PET has produced a wide array of important clinical and preclinical findings in the last few years. This FNIH project will be critically important to provide a more conclusive interpretation of in vivo SV2A PET data as a biomarker for synaptic density.”
Richard E. Carson, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering
Director, Yale PET Center
Yale University