The center will be located on the M. D. Anderson campus in Houston at the same site as the cyclotron-equipped radiopharmacy jointly operated by M. D. Anderson and PETNET Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions.
Researchers from Siemens and M. D. Anderson will work together at the center to develop novel radiolabeled imaging agents that visualize molecular-genetic targets, facilitating the translation of laboratory findings into clinical imaging applications and helping researchers study the effects of new drugs and other cancer treatments. As part of the agreement, researchers at M. D. Anderson will perform preclinical testing of Siemens' proprietary and licensed compounds, as well as participate in Siemens' clinical trials. Siemens will have certain rights to license imaging agents developed through the research.
"Expanding our research collaboration with M. D. Anderson enables us to combine the academic intellect of some of the world's leading cancer researchers with Siemens' molecular imaging technologies and expertise to develop more specific biomarkers," said Michael Reitermann, president, Molecular Imaging Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "Siemens' preclinical solutions are designed to help facilitate leading-edge research and accelerate the drug development process by empowering researchers to identify specific biological processes, monitor the efficacy of compounds, and measure disease progression over time."
As part of the collaboration at M. D. Anderson, Siemens is providing research scientists and radiochemical equipment dedicated to preclinical imaging for the laboratory, including Siemens' Inveon(TM) platform, a multimodality imaging solution that allows researchers to utilize a combination of preclinical hybrid imaging systems and preclinical analysis applications. The system enables Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and CT data acquisition to be done separately or simultaneously. The Inveon's high PET resolution and sensitivity will help researchers during preclinical studies to detect early functional and metabolic changes in tumors, including epidermal growth factor receptor expression, in response to targeted therapies.
"The research collaboration is a true joint venture," said Juri G. Gelovani, M.D., Ph.D., chairman, Department of Experimental Imaging, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. "Our goal is to help transition preclinical studies of newly developed compounds from the lab through clinic trials to fill in the gaps of the diagnostic imaging field and develop more effective molecular therapies."
Molecular imaging biomarkers -- imaging agents that characterize biological processes and disease -- enable the biological mechanisms of disease to be identified and understood. Results may help physicians determine personalized therapies for patients by pinpointing the active pathways in the disease progression.
Siemens is the world's leading producer and distributor of PET tracers. PETNET, Siemens' distribution channel for biomarkers, has the largest U.S. network of cyclotron-equipped radiopharmacies, reaching as many as 99 percent of hospitals and imaging centers in the U.S. - Siemens.
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