Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by synaptic damage, neuronal loss and cognitive decline caused by the neurotoxic effects of amyloid-β. It is the third most significant challenge to global health nowadays and currently available drugs have limited efficacy.

An implanted deep brain stimulator that calibrates its electrical pulses based on changes in brain activity reduced patients’ most bothersome symptoms of Parkinson’s disease 50%, a small feasibility study published in Nature Medicine found.

Abata Therapeutics Inc. announced it has received an equity investment from Bristol Myers Squibb to support the development of its Treg cell therapy products. Their investment supports Abata's continued advancement into the clinic, with trial initiation imminent for ABA-101 in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Abata obtained FDA clearance for a first-in-human study of ABA-101 in patients with MS in July.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by extensive demyelination and inflammatory responses. The clearance of microglial lipid droplets contributes to neural recovery and remyelination. Putting the focus on investigating microRNAs that regulate lipid homeostasis after SCI was the objective of a recently published study.

Otsuka Precision Health Inc. and Click Therapeutics Inc. pondered the signature question of cognitive behavioral therapy when setting the market approach for their jointly developed prescription digital therapeutic for major depressive disorder, Rejoyn.

With a move into Lilly Gateway Labs in Boston’s Seaport District, privately held Tevard Biosciences Inc. is ramping up development of its transfer RNA (tRNA)-based therapies to cure everything from Dravet syndrome and other neurological conditions to cardiology indications and muscular dystrophies.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s NNZ-2591 met the primary endpoints in a phase II trial in children with Angelman syndrome, with improvements seen in clinically important aspects of the disease, including communication, behavior, cognition and motor abilities, Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher said during an Aug. 9 conference call.