Alzheimers Treatment

Foundations team up to fund translational research on mitochondrial diseases, Alzheimer’s

Two foundations are pairing up to fund work toward new treatments for a group of diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine will award up to $200,000 to non-profit academic institutions and for-profit biotech companies. Qualifying organizations and companies should be conducting translational research for therapies that […]

Pharma

Pharma company developing Alzheimer’s pill that targets link between blood sugar and brain health

A handful of high-profile Alzheimer’s disease drugs have failed in late-stage clinical trials in the last year — at least two of them based on the hypothesis that buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain give rise to neurodegeneration. Startup T3D Therapeutics Inc. thinks that warrants a different approach to a disease-altering therapeutic. “Alzheimer’s disease […]

Devices & Diagnostics

Learn from a pro: Strategies to interest angels and VCs in a medical device startup

Paul Hartung, CEO of Cognoptix, Inc., a startup that has created a drug-device that could diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier in patients, is also the first person to have a syndicated angel deal in the Northeast. He’s raised more than $20 million for Cognoptix, and worked on the LASIK team at Summit until it was brought through […]

By Lindsey Alexander

Devices & Diagnostics

One to watch: Medical device company says eye test can diagnose Alzheimer’s

Cognoptix, Inc. claims to have created a working, in-office, non-invasive eye-scan that detects Alzheimer’s earlier in patients. The SAPPHIRE II tracks a beta amyloid (“Ab”) signature in the eyes of potential Alzheimer’s patients. In a 10-subject, proof-of-concept clinical trial, the drug-device picked up a 200 percent differentiation factor between five healthy volunteers and five patients […]

By Lindsey Alexander

Devices & Diagnostics

MindReader, Matched Flicker and 8 more cool startups we met at the healthcare innovation summit

In addition to all the smart, insightful speakers talking about innovation in healthcare and all the entrepreneurs in the startup showcase at CONVERGE last week, there were more than 50 other startups at the event. Here are a few of the most promising ideas and growing companies we heard about in Philadelphia. No more facility […]

Hospitals

AARP reality check: Members tell healthcare startups which ideas are on time

We invited 50 AARP members from the Philadelphia chapter to CONVERGE. They talked with the entrepreneurs in the Pfizer Startup Showcase. These consumers were our reality check on innovation. A few of the members shared their thoughts on which company resonated with them and their own health concerns. The members also joined a town hall […]

Consumer / Employer

Health Benefit Consultants, Share Your Expert Insights in Our Survey

By MedCity News

Health IT

Alzheimer’s drug developers get their own version of Match.com for CROs

Big pharma’s move to outsource much of its research and development needs to contract research organizations have helped create a thriving CRO industry. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation wants to help academic institutions and small biotechnology companies connect with CROs to make drug development more efficient. It’s launched a social network it compares to Match.com […]

By Stephanie Baum

Daily

J&J and Atlas Venture back launch of drug developer using epigenetics to treat Alzheimer’s disease

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) kicked off the launch of its Boston innovation center with news that it is backing a new drug developer targeting Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Early stage life science investor Atlas Venture started Rodin Therapeutics with biotechnology company Proteros and secured backing from J&J’s venture arm. Rodin is using epigenetics […]

By Stephanie Baum

Pharma

After a restructure and an axed Merck deal, Acumen gains $20M for novel Alzheimer’s drug

It’s been 17 years in the making, but Acumen Pharmaceuticals hasn’t given up hope for its approach to a disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s disease. After restructuring to become a virtual biotech and raising a $20 million Series A, Acumen is marching forward with preclinical development of an antibody that binds and captures soluble oligomers of the […]

Pharma

Repurposed cancer drug to enter Phase I trials for Alzheimer’s disease this year

In the world of Alzheimer’s disease drugs, the past year has been marked by disappointing Phase 3 clinical trial results for a handful of much-anticipated antibody drugs. But the failure of those drugs, designed to clear toxic beta amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brain, isn’t discouraging to Cleveland startup ReXceptor Inc., which has just […]

A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma

A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.

By PurpleLab

Pharma

Potential disease-altering drug for Alzheimer’s draws $6.4 million, with IND planned for 2014

A preclinical drug aimed at preventing misfolded proteins from getting tangled in the brain and potentially causing neurodegenerative disease has drawn another $6.4 million from investors. The latest round for NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals was led by Merieux Developpement, the private equity arm of the French public health group Institut Merieux. NeuroPhage says all existing investors also […]

Diagnostics

Three East Coast startups move to final round in health division at SxSW accelerator

Three West Coast investors picked three East Coast healthcare startups to move on to the final round of the SxSW health accelerator in Austin on Monday. NeuroTrack, Docphin and Careport Health beat out five other healthcare startups. It was a standing room only crowd as the entrepreneurs pitched to three judges from the Bay Area. […]

Health IT

Weight loss simulator, hand-held counterfeit drug detector among HHS’ best innovations

In an effort to showcase that government entities are doing what they can to encourage innovation too, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is inviting the public to review and choose the most practical of six creative products, services and campaigns developed by its employees. The contest, called HHSinnovates, is in its […]

Devices & Diagnostics

Global market for neuromodulation devices to grow to $6.8 billion by 2017

A new market report from MarketsandMarkets, a Dallas-based market research firm, is projecting that the global market for neuromodulation devices is set to grow to $6.8 billion by 2017. Another report from October estimated that this same market will increase to $7.07 billion in 2018. Neuromodulation devices, whether implanted or external, treat certain diseases by […]

By Arundhati Parmar

Hospitals

America should be following the French to get better care for Alzheimer’s patients

Looking for a way to send ObamaCare foes into a tizzy? Try suggesting emulating the French system. In any way. Yet if we believe in learning from best practices, we should start doing what the French are doing for people with Alzheimer's and their families.

With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?

Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.

A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence

At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.