Enigma Biomedical Partners to Use 4R PET Imaging Biomarkers in CTE Research
Enigma Biomedical USA, Inc. (EB USA) has announced an exciting new collaboration with the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center and the Concussion Legacy Foundation. This partnership aims to explore the value of 4R Tau PET imaging biomarkers in advancing the understanding of CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma, which has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its association with athletes and military veterans.
The primary focus of this collaboration will be on the assessment of 4R Tau PET biomarkers, specifically through autoradiographic and immunohistochemical analysis, to evaluate the binding properties of these high-affinity biomarkers in CTE tissue samples. Despite the significant progress in neuroimaging, there is still no Tau PET biomarker that possesses the sensitivity and specificity required to effectively image Tau pathology in living humans diagnosed with CTE. The development of such a biomarker would be a groundbreaking achievement in both diagnostic and research capabilities, as it would allow scientists to study CTE pathology in real-time, facilitating more accurate diagnosis and therapeutic development.
Rick Hiatt, President and CEO of EB USA, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the importance of their novel 4R Tau PET imaging technology. “We are thrilled to work with this elite partnership to validate our novel 4R PET imaging technology. We sincerely hope that the PET biomarkers prove to be a useful tool in advancing research into the devastating disease, CTE,” said Hiatt.
He also highlighted the company’s broader mission to support the development of promising technologies aimed at combating neurodegenerative diseases, with the 4R Tau PET biomarkers representing an important addition to their growing portfolio of neuroimaging tools. EB USA’s track record includes successes with the neuroimaging biomarkers MK-6240 and NAV-4694, both of which have played pivotal roles in advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
“EB USA is committed to enabling the acceleration of promising technologies to advance the fight against debilitating neurodegenerative diseases,” Hiatt continued. “We believe our 4R Tau PET imaging biomarkers have unique properties and will prove useful in developing therapeutic agents for conditions like CTE and Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to expand the availability of this novel investigational imaging technology to the broader scientific community.”
Chris Nowinski, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, also spoke passionately about the potential impact of the collaboration. He emphasized the urgent need for biomarkers capable of diagnosing CTE in living patients, a critical step toward developing disease-modifying treatments. “A biomarker for CTE in living patients is crucial for developing disease-modifying treatments. With CTE developing as early as seventeen years old, early diagnosis will give us a chance to stop CTE in its tracks before patients develop their first symptom,” said Nowinski. The ability to detect CTE in its earliest stages could revolutionize how the medical community addresses this debilitating condition, potentially offering treatment options long before symptoms manifest.
In addition to this collaboration with Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, EB USA had previously entered into an Exclusive License and Option Agreement with AbbVie. This agreement focuses on the development and potential commercialization of AbbVie’s next-generation F18 PET imaging biomarkers, specifically designed to detect the presence of 4R Tau in patients with suspected neurodegenerative diseases. This strategic partnership further demonstrates EB USA’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge diagnostic tools and biomarkers that can aid in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and CTE.
The collaboration with leading academic institutions and the Concussion Legacy Foundation underscores EB USA’s position at the forefront of neurological research and innovation. The company’s vision is to become the premier provider of imaging biomarkers for neurological pathologies, along with the associated information technology and tools that accelerate the development, approval, and adoption of effective therapies. EB USA’s neuroimaging biomarkers offer pharma and academic researchers powerful tools for advancing disease-modifying therapy development with unparalleled precision and accuracy.
As research into CTE and other neurodegenerative diseases continues to evolve, the success of this collaboration could open the door to significant advances in diagnostics, treatment, and ultimately the quality of life for millions of individuals affected by these debilitating conditions. By harnessing the power of PET imaging biomarkers, EB USA is working to create a future where earlier, more accurate diagnoses lead to better treatments and, eventually, cures for diseases that have long eluded the medical community.
