LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Data analytics company Ixico has been selected by the Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (GAP) to support its planned 'Bio-Hermes' trial.
The AIM-traded firm said it would apply its expertise to collect positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans in qualifying imaging centres participating in Bio-Hermes, and provide analysis of the scans.

It said the core purpose of Bio-Hermes was the development of a bio-sample database to investigate biomarkers on a head-to-head basis, in conjunction with medical history elements.

The trial would include 1,000 volunteers over the age of 60 screened for preclinical Alzheimer's disease, prodromal Alzheimer's disease, or mild dementia Alzheimer's disease.

Observational biomarker studies consistently suggested that amyloid deposition and tau deposition in neurofibrillary tangles in the brain could be the sentinel events in Alzheimer's disease pathology.

In the Bio-Hermes trial, Avid Pharmaceuticals' 'Amyvid' would be used as the radioactive diagnostic agent to estimate beta-amyloid neuritic plaque density.

Ixico said the contract did not have a significant impact on its expectations of performance for the year, but would contribute to its "already strong" year-end order book.

"We are delighted to be selected by GAP as their prime choice for the analysis of PET scans in the Bio-Hermes trial," said chief executive officer Giulio Cerroni.

"With a reinvigorated level of interest in Alzheimer's disease, we are excited about the prospects of long-term collaboration with our colleagues at GAP who share our own commitment to reducing the time, cost, and risk for Alzheimer's disease trials.

"The support provided by Ixico staff on Bio-Hermes is an important commercial development in enhancing Ixico's market position in neuroimaging for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials."

At 1236 BST, shares in Ixico were down 2.75% at 81.2p.

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