Reuters: Regulatory News: UPDATE 1-U.S. Medicare panel skeptical of brain-plaque scans

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UPDATE 1-U.S. Medicare panel skeptical of brain-plaque scans Jan 30th 2013, 20:48 Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:48pm EST Jan 30 (Reuters) - A Medicare advisory panel expressed skepticism on Wednesday that brain scans using radioactive imaging agents can affect health outcomes of people with early symptoms of memory and cognitive problems. The medical panel's lack of confidence could deter reimbursement for Eli Lilly's recently approved Amyvid, an imaging agent used to detect levels in the brain of plaque made from beta amyloid protein. The plaque is considered by many researchers to be a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) met in an all-day review of the imaging technique. It involves use of PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography), which measure the decay of injected radioactive tracers like Amyvid. Of 12 voting members, eight voted they had low or low-to-intermediate confidence that PET imaging of brain beta amyloid changes health outcomes. Three members voted they had intermediate confidence, while one voted intermediate to high confidence. The U.S. Medicare insurance program for the elderly and disabled already reimburses use of PET scans to detect and analyze a wide number of cancers. But the agency is evaluating whether to reimburse patients for Lilly's product.

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