Alzheimer's imaging showdown: which tracer is better?

NCT ID NCT05361382

Ongoing Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Tharick Pascoal Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares two different radioactive tracers used in PET scans to measure tau tangles in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will scan over 800 participants with either Flortaucipir or MK-6240 to see how well they work over time. The goal is to harmonize these measurements so that future studies and clinics can use either tracer reliably.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Flortaucipir and MK-6240 (tau PET tracers)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help standardize Alzheimer's imaging, making it easier to compare results across different studies and improve diagnosis.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not lead to immediate clinical changes, and the tracers may not be equally effective across all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease tauopathy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ALZHEIMER DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, United States
Houston Methodist Neurological Institute

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Berkeley, California, 94720, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
McGill University

Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, Canada
Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute

Barcelona, Spain, 08025, Spain
University of California San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States
Washington University in St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States

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