What is Neuraceq®

An image of the brain, or a “scan,” gives your doctor a minimally invasive way to look inside the brain to see what might be causing memory and thinking problems.

The most common cause of cognitive impairment due to a neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In AD, sticky clumps of protein called beta(β)‐amyloid plaques build up in the brain, affecting the way the brain works.

Neuraceq® is a radioactive tracer designed to stick to β-amyloid neuritic plaques in the brain for a short time. When used with PET scanning to create an image of your brain, Neuraceq® can reveal the presence or absence of β-amyloid plaque.

Neuraceq® has been well-studied

Neuraceq® was studied in a large clinical trial program for this type of agent. This program was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA).

• Accurate Diagnostic Tool: It was demostrated that Neuraceq® is an accurate diagnostic tool for the estimation of β-amyloid neuritic plaque in the living brain.
• Only Active for a Short Time: Neuraceq® is radioactive but only stays active in the brain for a short time. More than half of it disappear within 2 hours of being injected.
• No serious side effects: No serious side effects related to Neuraceq® have been reported. All side effects were mild to moderate and of short duration.

Preparing for your Neuraceq® PET scan

Wear comfortable clothing with no metal parts. You should not wear jewelry. You may be asked to remove items containing metal, such as eyeglasses. Be sure to bring a list of all the medications you are currently taking, and be ready to share your medical history.

What to expect

A Neuraceq® PET scan involves an injection into a vein in your arm and and is followed by a scan of your brain. A flushing solution may be injected to help Neuraceq® move more quickly through the bloodstream.

• Injection: Neuraceq® injection is given through an IV (intravenous) tube.
• 45+ Minutes: The Neuraceq® scan can be performed 45 to 130 minutes after injection and usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes.
• During the Scan: During the scan, you will lie down on a table while the PET scanner camera passes overhead.
• After the Scan: After the scan, an imaging specialist will view the results, write a report, and send it to your doctor.

Neuraceq® PET Results

During your follow-up appointment, your doctor will review your Neuraceq® PET scan along with results from other tests to figure out whether your cognitive impairment may be due to AD or something else.

A negative scan

If the Neuraceq® scan is negative, your doctor may consider different causes of cognitive impairment that are not due to AD.

A positive scan

If the Neuraceq® scan is positive, it can help your doctor figure out if you have AD. (3-amyloid neuritic plaques are sticky clumps of protein that form in the brains of people who have AD. However, (3-amyloid plaques may also be present in other diseases and in people without cognitive symptoms. These plaques affect the way the brain works. The presence of (3-amyloid plaques is a key component for the confirmation of AD.