Molecule in development

Parkinson’s disease, second most common neurodegenerative pathology in the world

Parkinson’s disease is a chronicle neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system, responsible for disorders, being mostly motor disorders with progressive evolution.

Females and males are at risk, with an average age for the onset of the disease between 45 and 60.  Anatomically, Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (i.e. producing dopaminergic neurotransmitter) reaching the striatum. Functionally, the dopamine level reduces in the synaptic cleft of dopaminergic neurons.

More than 10 Million

people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the world


new cases in the US per year

Parkinson’s Foundation,

LBT-999, a specific radiotracer targeting dopamine transporter for Parkinson’s diagnosis


LBT-999 is an analog of tropane, initially developed by Tours University (France). This molecule has a high affinity and an excellent selectivity for the dopamine transporter (DAT).  DAT is a protein located in synaptic clefts and is essential to the neurotransmission dynamic. LBT-999 ensures a prompt and efficient recapture of the released dopamine, thus controlling precisely spatially and temporally this neurotransmitter amount.

Labelled with Fluor-18, LBT-999, combined with a PET Scan, allows physicians to visualize and quantify the DAT in striato-nigral nerve endings (caudate nuclei and putamen).

During Parkinson’s disease, the degeneration of dopaminergic fibers reaching the striatum coincide with a decrease, not only of dopamine but also of the DAT. We can then observe a hyposignal of LBT-999 in the striatum. A simple exam combining LBT-999 has the potential to confirm the clinical diagnostic of Parkinson’s disease in a non-invasive way. It also allows physicians to differentiate this neurodegenerative disease from others having the same motor clinical symptomatology as some dementias (Lewy body dementia).

For investigational use only – for more information, please contact


Next generation in-vivo biomarkers
