The story has been updated to clarify the nature of the test in the headline.
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – DiaGenic today announced a deal with GE Healthcare to develop a blood-based test using DiaGenic's gene expression profiling tools for the early detection of a disorder associated with Alzheimer's disease.
The two firms will conduct a study that combines DiaGenic's technology with a GE PET imaging agent to identify a blood-based gene expression signature in patients with mild cognitive impairment, which is associated with risk for AD. The deal is part of a broad portfolio of diagnostic tools under development by GE.
GE's PET imaging agent, 18F-flutemetamol, is in phase 3 development for the detection of beta amyloid and is not approved by any regulatory agency, DiaGenic said.
Oskar Hansson of Lund University and Skane University Hospital will be the principal investigator on the collaboration, and said that the goal is to recruit 180 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 30 patients with clinically diagnosed mild to moderate AD.
The collaboration will combine expertise in data integration, informatics, genomics, and imaging in order to discover a biomarker that can be used to identify patients at risk of AD at the very early disease stage, Oslo-based DiaGenic said.
Innovation Norway is providing NOK2 million ($351,316) to the effort. Innovation Norway is an effort by the Norwegian government to develop businesses and industry in the country.
Financial and other terms of the partnership were not disclosed.