Value Proposition:
· Technology combines positron emission tomography (PET) with targeted imaging compounds for a first-in-class approach to peripheral nerve injury (PNI) evaluation and monitoring.
· Provides a method for non-invasive evaluation of PNI status immediately post-injury and over the recovery timeline.
· Implementation of this technology would allow for earlier and more accurate diagnoses, better-informed care discussions, and improved monitoring of recovery.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have determined that TSPO-targeting compounds can be used in combination with PET to characterize peripheral nerve injury and nerve regeneration after PNI.
· This approach provides an inverse image of nerve regeneration by visualizing activated macrophages and microglia in the setting of PNI-associated inflammation.
Unmet Need
· Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) are a common cause of permanent disability, pain, and reduced quality of life.
· Current imaging approaches (e.g., electrodiagnostic studies, ultrasound, magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging) are limited in terms of image quality and diagnostic utility.
· Unfortunately, no imaging modality can reliably characterize internal architecture, leading to months of "watchful waiting" to monitor for signs of spontaneous recovery, which can result in permanent function loss for patients with PNI.
· Patients with PNI experience disproportionate disability relative to those with non-nerve extremity traumas.
· Therefore, there is a strong need to develop technologies that improve diagnostic imaging and clinical management of PNI.
Stage of Development
· Preclinical in vitro and animal model studies complete; human safety and biodistribution studies complete; currently developing clinical trials for NDA approval and commercialization.
Publication
N/A
