Avid development compound AV-133 binds to VMAT2 in the brain for imaging Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)

• PD and DLB are defined by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal region of the brain.
• VMAT2 is a marker of viable dopaminergic neurons.
• Imaging of VMAT2 correlates with loss of neuronal function in the striatum.
• Avid compounds bind tightly to VMAT2 in the brain and allow the imaging of viable nigrostriatal neurons.

Avid's program for imaging VMAT2 in the brain is based on the hypothesis that in vivo detection of neuronal losses in the striatum by positron emission computed tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging would be a useful biomarker for monitoring and diagnosis of PD and DLB. In collaboration with Dr. Michael Kilbourn at the University of Michigan and Dr. Hank Kung at the University of Pennsylvania, we have developed novel radiolabeled compounds that selectively bind to VMAT2 and are testing these compounds as molecular imaging agents in preclinical and clinical trials for detecting PD and DLB.

Human imaging with ¹⁸F-AV-133


Normal control
Striatum : Occipital Lobe Ratio = 5:1