IXICO contracted for Alzheimer's vaccine trial

Neuroscience-focussed digital technologies company IXICO signed a new contract for specialist imaging clinical trial services, it said on Wednesday.

The AIM-traded firm said the contract was for a Phase II clinical trial of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Sponsored by specialist Spanish biotech company Araclon Biotech - a division of Grifols - IXICO said the second phase of the study was designed to establish the dosage regimen for the therapy, as well as confirm the treatment safety and tolerability data obtained in phase I.

Using the company’s ‘TrialTracker’ digital platform, IXICO would collate both PET and MRI scans acquired at specialist imaging centres across Europe.

That data would be then analysed using IXICO's patent protected image analysis technology, which had been customised to evaluate patient eligibility, assess target engagement and quantify drug effects in AD patients.

“We are delighted to be working with Araclon Biotech which continues our success in providing our customers with a solution that spans both PET and MR imaging services,” said chief executive Giulio Cerroni.

“It is a great example of IXICO's growing value to the biopharmaceutical industry and reinforces our confidence in revenue growth this financial year.”

Manuel Sarasa, chief scientific officer of Araclon, said it was an “important milestone” to initiate phase II of clinical trials for the Alzheimer's vaccine ‘ABvac40’ after receiving approval from the Spanish Agency of Medicinal Products and Medical Service.

“We are a little closer to achieving our goal, so it is fundamental for us to incorporate the best-in-class suppliers, such as IXICO, to work together in this amazing project that is also supported by some Spanish institutions such as the Zaragoza University.”