Researchers at Merck & Co. Inc. have presented the discovery of novel selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) as potential PET imaging agents. Synthesis and optimization of a series of analogues of a potent and selective mGluR2 NAM resulted in the identification of compound MK-8056 as a high-affinity mGluR2 NAM (Ki=0.19 nM) with desirable lipophilicity (logD7.0=2.46) and low P-gp susceptibility.
Neko Health AB reported it has secured $67 million in investment capital to develop its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven full body scanner beyond its home country, Sweden. This series A round was led by Berlin-based Lakestar Advisors GmbH, with participation from Atomico (UK) Partners LLP from London and General Catalyst Group Management LLC from Cambridge, Mass. “Our new concept in body digitization technology, capable of rapidly collecting large amounts of health data, will enable us to identify illness at an early stage and take preventive action,” Hjalmar Nilsonne, CEO and co-founder of Neko Health told BioWorld.
Several neurodegenerative disorders have TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) inclusions as a pathological hallmark; thus, the development of PET tracers able to detect TDP-43 aggregates is essential to advance the diagnosis and treatment monitoring in diseases such as frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and others.
Caristo Diagnostics Ltd. is deploying its medical imaging technology, Cari-Heart, at several NHS hospitals in a pilot project that will help identify patients at risk of heart attack years before it occurs. Cari-Heart detects signs of inflammation around coronary arteries. “No other company is doing this,” Frank Cheng, CEO of Caristo told BioWorld. “No one is using CT to quantify and visualize coronary inflammation” to predict the risk of a heart attack years in advance.
Sonio SAS closed its series A fundraising round raising $14 million that will go some way in helping the company deliver on its mission to improve access to quality pregnancy monitoring for women everywhere through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Sonio has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) prenatal screening solution that automates ultrasound reporting while providing image quality control and detection of potential anomalies. The capital raise was led by Cross-Border Impact Ventures, a North American impact fund dedicated to the health of women and children.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and affiliated organizations have provided details on the discovery and preclinical evaluation of [64Cu]NODAGA-PEG4-SL-022-GGS, a novel small peptide imaging agent for evaluating CD38 expression.
Nuclidium AG, an early stage radiopharmaceuticals and radiodiagnostics developer, aims to bypass the production constraints that have hampered other firms in the field by employing copper radioisotopes for both therapeutic and imaging purposes.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and affiliated organizations have reported the development and preclinical evaluation of [18F]F-ZW-cinacalcet, a novel PET agent targeting the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) for parathyroid imaging.
Actinium-226 (226Ac) has been previously proposed as a potential surrogate isotope for the development of 225Ac radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy (TAT). The benefits of 226Ac include its theoretically superior therapeutic potency as well as a short half-life of its progeny, expected to minimize the toxicities. Researchers from TRIUMF, University of British Columbia and affiliated organizations recently reported the discovery of a novel matched 225/226Ac-radiopharmaceutical pair, [225Ac]crown-TATE and [226Ac]crown-TATE, and conducted studies aiming to compare the radiation dosimetry of these candidates.
Thirona BV has been awarded $2.73 million in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to fast-track the development of its artificial intelligence (AI)-based lung platform to analyze chest CT imaging. In competition with 554 other submissions, Thirona was one of 51 innovative technology companies awarded the EIC accelerator program grant, the total budget for which is €261 million (US$286.28 million) in 2023.