Researchers from Finland and Italy published a biomarker-based algorithm for the diagnosis of dementia in the journal Diagnostics. The algorithm enables clinicians to distinguish between various neurodegenerative diseases with shared clinical presentations and select appropriate treatment. The algorithm relies primarily on blood biomarker measurements to diagnose the type of dementia much earlier than is possible with the diagnostic tools in use today.
HONG KONG – Looking to improve treatment outcomes for Alzheimer’s patients, Shanghai-based Luye Pharma Group has inked a deal to hand the Japanese rights for its leading treatment to Japan’s Towa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Made through Luye’s subsidiary Luye Pharma Switzerland AG, the agreement gives Towa the exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of the Rivastigmine multi-day transdermal patch (Rivastigmine MD) in Japan.
The independent data monitoring committee overseeing Cortexyme Inc.’s phase II/III trial of atuzaginstat (COR-388), a gingipain inhibitor for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, has recommended the study continue to its one-year endpoint.
HONG KONG – Aprinoia Therapeutics Inc. is poised to start phase III clinical trials for its positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracer 18F-APN-1607 in China, after receiving the green light from the National Medical Products Administration.
Keeping you up to date on recent developments in neurology, including: Software developed to objectively calculate white matter hyperintensities; CSF biomarkers point to underlying cause of neural damage in COVID-19; Scientists discover how cryptochrome mutation leads to sleep disorder; Physical labor significantly increases the risk of dementia.
LONDON – Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd. has received CE software as a medical device approval for its cognitive assessment tool, a five-minute test intended as a diagnostic aid to identifying the earliest stages of dementia.
Arkuda Therapeutics, a new company targeting progranulin and lysosomal biology to treat neurodegenerative diseases, has completed a $44 million series A financing led by Atlas Venture, its co-creator, and Pfizer Ventures. Funds managed by Tekla Capital Management LLC and Bioinnovation Capital also participated.
Houston-based startup Braincheck Inc. scooped up $8 million in series A funding in a round led by S3 Ventures and Tensility Venture Partners, along with True Wealth Ventures and Nueterra Capital. Braincheck launched its digital cognitive assessment tool in 2015 and a cognitive care planning solution in 2018, and now the company is looking to broaden its footprint with physician practices, hospitals and health systems. Proceeds from the financing will help to build the company's sales and marketing and clinical development teams in Houston, as well as production development staff in Austin.
Screening for early signs of cognitive impairment and dementia amongst the elderly is a task that's often unevenly attended to by primary care physicians. But the routine personal consumer devices that we use every day might offer a clearer and more consistent window into early declines in cognitive and memory function, according to data from a feasibility study that were reported this week at the Association for Computing Machinery's Knowledge, Discovery and Data Mining conference in Anchorage, Alaska.
