New PET tracer aims to spot Huntington's protein clumps in living brains

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: PwHD HD-ISS Stages 2 and 3 and HC participants who: 1. Are female or male adults, age 18-64 years old, inclusive. 2. Have body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 35, inclusive. 3. Have capacity to give full informed consent in writing and have read and signed the informed consent form (ICF). 4. Are able to comply with study procedures, including fasting and blood sampling. 5. Are able and willing to travel to the imaging center in Leuven, Belgium. 6. Are willing to comply with the use of adequate contraceptive measures. HD-ISS Stage 2 participants who: 7. Have a huntingtin gene CAG expansion between 40 and 50, inclusive; and 8. Are classified within HD-ISS Stage 2 per the HD-ISS criteria using HD-ISS Modified Stage calculator. 9. Have a PIN score of 0.47 to 1.84 \[prognostic index normed for HD (PIN) where PIN = (PIHD - 883)/1044 where PIHD = 51 x TMS + (-34) x SDMT + 7 x Age x (CAG - 34) (TMS is the UHDRS Total Motor Score, and SDMT is the UHDRS Symbol Digit Modalities Test)\]. HD-ISS Stage 2 participants who: 7\. Have a huntingtin gene CAG expansion between 40 and 50, inclusive; and 8. Are classified within HD-ISS Stage 2 per the HD-ISS criteria using HD-ISS Modified Stage calculator. 9\. Have a PIN score of 0.47 to 1.84 \[prognostic index normed for HD (PIN) where PIN = (PIHD - 883)/1044 where PIHD = 51 x TMS + (-34) x SDMT + 7 x Age x (CAG - 34) (TMS is the UHDRS Total Motor Score, and SDMT is the UHDRS Symbol Digit Modalities Test)\]. HC participants who: 13\. Have no known family history of HD; or 14. Have a known family history of HD and have been tested for the huntingtin gene CAG expansion and are not at genetic risk for HD (CAG \< 36). 15\. Age match (+/- 5 years) and biological sex match to each HD participant in Cohort 2 and Cohort 3 (except for Cohort 1, no matching). Exclusion Criteria: PwHD HD-ISS Stages 2 and 3 and HC participants who: 1. Are currently participating in, or are less than 30 days after completing participation in, other therapeutic or imaging studies. 2. Have previously participated in a PET imaging study in the past 12 months that, cumulatively with the current study, will exceed annual regulatory limits for radiation exposure. 3. Have any disease, condition, or concomitant medication that significantly compromises the function of the body systems and that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with the conduct of the study or its interpretation. 4. Are pregnant and breastfeeding females. 5. Have concomitant use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy (inclusive of acetylsalicylic acid). 6. Have a bleeding disorder. 7. Have a needle phobia. 8. Have any metal objects present in the body that are incompatible with MRI. 9. Have metal objects present in the body that are compatible with MRI and are located in the head or neck. 10. Have any clinically significant results on safety laboratory tests that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would either put the participant at risk or interfere with the conduct of the study or interpretation of data. These tests include, but are not limited to: * a. positive results for HBsAg, HepC, HIV-1 or HIV-2 (will also be reported as required by local/national regulations), * b. clinically significant, abnormal results for safety laboratory tests. PwHD participants who: 11. If they are using any antidepressant, psychoactive, psychotropic or other medications or nutraceuticals used to treat HD, the use of inappropriate (e.g., non-therapeutically high) or unstable dose within 30 days prior to participation. HC participants who: 12. Have a family history of HD and have not been tested for the huntingtin gene (CAG) expansion.