He points out, "The significance of this research and the companion research reported in Kuwabara et al. in this same issue is that they describe in detail the selection and quantification of a second-generation tau PET imaging as a complement to amyloid imaging, allowing us to accurately measure tau pathology in living people and contributing to our understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's and related dementias. Better Tau PET radiopharmaceuticals also provide the promise of improved target engagement and monitoring of anti-tau treatments in future Alzheimer's clinical trials."

Collaboration has been key to this research process. Wong emphasizes, "These findings demonstrate the impact of the complementary strengths of preclinical, translational and clinical research with university PET and memory experts, NIH aging experts and dedicated imaging neuroscientists in the pharmaceutical industry to approach one of the greatest global public health challenges--i.e., Alzheimer's disease, where there is still no definitive cure. Improved biomarkers such as PET imaging of tau and, in the future, other dementia-implicated proteins are vital to reducing the enormous costs of drug development (typically $1B-$2B a year per drug) and eventually understanding and treating Alzheimer's."

Authors of "Characterization of 3 Novel Tau Radiopharmaceuticals, 11C-RO-963, 11C-RO-643, and 18F-RO-948, in Healthy Controls and in Alzheimer Subjects" include Dean F. Wong, Hiroto Kuwabara, Paul B. Rosenberg, Esther Oh, Constantine G. Lyketsos, Noble George, Lorena Gapasin, Kelly Kitzmiller, Josh Roberts, Ayon Nandi, James Brasic, Chakradhar Mishra, Abhay Moghekar, Anil Mathur, Marilyn Albert, and Robert F. Dannals, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Robert A. Comley, Susanne Ostrowitzki, Cristina Vozzi, Frank Boess, Michael Honer, Luca Gobbi, Gregory Klein, Jeff Sevigny, and Edilio Borroni, Pharma Research and Early Development, Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland; Susan M. Resnick and Madhav Thambisetty, Lab of Behavior and Neuroscience, NIH's National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland.

This study was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel, Switzerland. In addition, Susan Resnick and Madhav Thambisetty are supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging.

This study was made available online in May 2018 ahead of final publication in print in December 2018.


About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

SNMMI's more than 17,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice.

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