Cerveau Technologies, Inc. Signs Clinical Supply Agreement with Merck for Investigational Tau Imaging Agent

Cerveau Technologies, Inc. today announced finalization of a clinical supply agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, providing access to an investigational imaging agent being evaluated in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for assessing the status and progression of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. NFTs made up of aggregated tau protein are believed to provide a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

As part of the agreement Cerveau will be responsible for providing access to MK-6240 at multiple sites globally to be used in Merck-specific research initiatives. Cerveau will be accelerating technology transfer and site qualification in over fifteen sites to provide access to support broad availability.

“At Cerveau, we are focused on providing information and technologies to researchers and clinicians in order to improve brain health,” said Rick Hiatt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cerveau Technologies, Inc. “We are excited by the opportunity to work with Merck and the pharmaceutical industry in providing access to this investigational imaging agent to the broader scientific community. We are rapidly establishing collaborations and agreements to improve processes in order to support multiple initiatives around the world.”

“There is a critical need for new imaging agents that provide sensitive biomarkers to enable early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases and allow for more appropriate staging of disease states, and measuring the effect of disease-modifying therapeutics,” said Cyrille Sur, Executive Director, Translational Imaging Biomarkers, Merck Research Laboratories. “Agreements such as this provide a platform to evaluate the potential of our novel Tau imaging agent.”

In early studies published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck scientists reported that [18F]MK-6240 has a high specificity and selectivity for neurofibrillary tangles with favorable physicochemical properties and in vivo pharmacokinetics that warranted clinical investigation as a potential PET neuroimaging agent. Merck and Cerveau are currently conducting an open-label Phase 1 study to investigate the safety and efficacy of [18F]MK-6240 as a PET imaging agent for quantifying brain burden of neurofibrillary tangle pathology. For further information about the trial please go to clinical trials.gov (NCT02562989).

About Cerveau Technologies, Inc.

Cerveau Technologies, Inc. is a partnership between Enigma Biomedical Group, Inc. and Sinotau Pharmaceutical Group. Cerveau's vision is to globally develop diagnostics and technology that will impact patients with neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.