U.S. to expand access to PET imaging scans for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis
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A national policy that limited the use of a type of brain scan called positron emission tomography (PET) in testing for symptoms of Alzheimer's disease has been removed, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said on Friday.
The cause of the memory-robbing disease, which afflicts more than 6M people in the U.S., is not known. However, one of the major effects of the disease is a buildup of amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles that affect information transmitting neurons. PET scans are used by doctors to check for this buildup. 
The only fully approved U.S. Food and Drug Administration treatment for Alzheimer's is Eisai (OTCPK:ESALF) (OTCPK:ESAIY) and Biogen's (BIIB) Leqembi, which acts by reducing existing amyloid brain plaque. Shares of Biogen (BIIB) were only slightly higher in afternoon trade. 
"(CMS is) ending coverage with evidence development (CED) for positron emission tomography (PET) beta amyloid imaging and permitting Medicare coverage determinations for PET beta amyloid imaging to be made by the Medicare Administrative Contractors," the federal agency said in a statement.
The change will eliminate the current limit of one PET scan per patient for beta amyloid imaging.
The Alzheimerâs Association, a major donor-supported voluntary health organization, applauded the move by the CMS.
"Amyloid PET scans are a proven tool and can be an important part of Alzheimerâs diagnosis and treatment. Broader access to amyloid PET scans will enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and better care management," Maria Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimerâs Association, said in a statement.
The Alzheimer's disease space was already in the spotlight on Friday courtesy of Cassava Sciences (SAVA), whose stock was down nearly 13% following a 38% plummet in extended trading on Thursday. The decline came after a report that a researcher working on behalf of the company was found to have engaged in scientific misconduct in regards to data on SAVA's prized Alzheimerâs asset simufilam.
Stocks of other companies working on Alzheimer's treatments were mixed: Longeveron (LGVN) +4.2%, BioVie (BIVI) +1.7%, INmune Bio (INMB) -2.8%, Prothena (PRTA) -3%, Annovis Bio (ANVS) -5.8%. 
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