Enigma to use Neuraly’s PET tracer to monitor MS neuroinflammation
PMI04 is a next-generation imaging agent for visualizing microglia activity
Enigma Biomedical has entered into an agreement with Neuraly to use its PET imaging tracer PMI04 to visualize microglia activity in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Microglia are resident immune cells in the brain that are believed to play a role in driving inflammation and nerve damage in MS and other diseases. Enigma plans to assess if the new imaging agent can be used to monitor inflammation in these conditions, which may inform the development of new therapies and potentially help diagnose the diseases earlier.
“We are delighted to have been selected as a development partner by Neuraly,” Rick Hiatt, president and CEO of Enigma, said in a company press release. “Our commitment is to expand the availability of this novel investigational imaging agent to the broader scientific community.”
As part of the agreement, Enigma will own the exclusive research rights for PMI04, and will acquire its exclusive development and commercialization rights if the research studies are successful. In turn, Neuraly will receive an upfront payment from Enigma and is eligible for certain milestone payments, along with royalties from future sales.
“We hope this partnership will represent a significant step forward in providing alternatives for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We will do our utmost to ensure that PMI04 is commercialized swiftly through close collaboration with Enigma,” said Seulki Lee, PhD, CEO of Neuraly.
Visualizing microglia activity
MS is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking a protective coating around nerve fibers, which causes nerve damage and a range of disease symptoms. Microglia are cells in the brain and spinal cord that support and protect neurons in their functions, and are also vital for immune surveillance and immune responses. But these cells can become overly reactive and further exacerbate nerve damage in neurodegenerative diseases.
PMI04 is a next-generation PET imaging tracer designed to visualize microglia activity. It binds to the CSF-1 receptor present in activated microglia, directly correlating with microglia survival and growth. This is expected to be better at detecting and quantifying neuroinflammation than current tracers that target the TSPO protein.
By measuring the activity of these important contributors to neuroinflammation, PMI04 may aid in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and MS.
It may also help accelerate the development of new therapies for these conditions, by providing researchers a more reliable tool to assess treatment efficacy.
“We believe the Neuraly CSF-1R PET imaging biomarker has unique properties and will prove useful in developing current and future therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease,” Hiatt said.
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