Siemens: A Dual Approach to Molecular Imaging

NEUROTECHNOLOGY

Siemens Medical Solutions is one of several imaging companies that have jumped into the world of molecular imaging, with a particular focus on systems and biomarkers that work with the brain and central nervous system. Siemens has developed a system that provides simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The company believes the system could prove to be a turning point in diagnosis and therapy for patients suffering from neurological diseases,stroke, and cancer.

“You get information on a complex cellular level that you probably couldn't get in any other way,” explains Peter Kingma, vice president of Siemens's molecular imaging division. “Now if you can combine these two modalities in one examination, you can acquire both the PET and MR information. Then you're in a situation where you can focus on the area in the brain where a specific bout of epilepsy is originatingfrom, for example.”

Kingma says that the system provides a very precise level of detail.“You get a functional map of the activityaround that focus with the MR,giving you special information aboutthat portion of the brain and how itrelates to other structures in the brain.You see the metabolic activity in thatportion of the brain as the seizuredevelops in real time. This systemenables clinicians to isolate where thatburst of electrical impulse is beingfired from,” says Kingma. “You can even do this while it'sbeing fired. As the patient goes into the seizure, you couldbe mapping this.” Current technology requires separateMRI and PET examinations.

“With MRI, you can produce functional information to some degree. You also have a high sensitivity to the pathology of the disease. With PET, you produce metabolic information. You produce contrast in the image, which is a function of metabolic activity and the utilization of glucose uptake of certain biomarkers, which are functionally dependent,”explains Kingma.

The integration of the two modalities into one platform enables clinicians to acquire data without moving the patient. “The gain in resolution and sensitivity, which is absolutely unmatched, is an incredible opportunity. And it's an opportunity to use the same platform for the diagnostic delivery as well as the therapeutic delivery,” notes Kingma. “So although it is a research tool currently, I see it becoming a mainstream diagnostic tool, which definitely will change the way we look at Alzheimer's. It could also change the platform that we use to evaluate the response and delivery of therapy to patientswith Alzheimer's.”

Testing of the prototype will begin before the end of 2007.“We're probably 24 monthsaway from this machine being inroutine clinical delivery,” saysKingma. “There certainly will beopportunities under normal FDAguidelines for collaborations andresearch and proof-of-concept tobe made available in certain discreteand agreed and controlledenvironments.”

Imaging companies like Siemens—traditional manufactures of imaging equipment, hardware, and software that are sold into hospitals—are in a state of constant assessmentand evaluation of markets and market potential.

“We see that our portfolio in the future will definitely be directly linked to the production of biomarkers as well as the production of imaging technology and that we would be offering solutions in both of these segments,” says Kingma.“In the future, molecular medicine will drive partnershipsbetween pharma and imaging vendors that are currentlyonly present to a very limited degree.”

And, accordingly, Siemens has invested fairly strongly in acquisitions related to laboratory testing and the development of biomarkers. Siemens's recent acquisition of Diagnostic Products Corp. is an extension of that strategy. It is devoted to the research, development, discovery, and production of biomarkers focused on specific clinical outcomes. The research will be linked with Siemens's production, design, and development of corresponding molecular-imagingtechnologies.

“So we'll make the machines that do the studies on patients, and we'll be supplying the biomarkers to do those studies in one seamless, integrated solution. That's where we're heading. We believe that we need to stimulate, control, and drive that side of the business as well, rather than just wait passively for others to design things that we maybe able to utilize and incorporate.”

Kingma believes that the role of imaging companies has to change in the future. “If you look at the amount of investment that has been made by large-scale companies at this time in molecular medicine, you have to accept that the field is changing,” he says. “It certainly is a trend. If you want to be taken seriously in the medical imaging field now, you have to be able to provide both in vivo and in vitro solutions.”

Copyright ©2007 Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry