Scientific and Medical Validation:
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We have based our validation on the analysis of data from our current database with 500 patients and control subjects and in the resulting data from a new study developed in Ecuador within the National Prometeo Program:
This work has been done in The Strategic National Plan of Neurodegenerative diseases of the Ecuador Republic inside the PROMETEO program.
The Prometeo Project is an initiative of the Ecuadorian government that seeks to strengthen research, academy, and knowledge transference in specialized topics through the incorporation of foreign and Ecuadorian experts (who live abroad) to different host institutions. It is aimed at universities, polytechnic schools, public research institutes, and other public or co-financed institutions that require assistance in the development of research projects in areas of priority. The time of incorporation of the Prometeos may be from 2 months to one year (not necessarily in consecutive periods), during which they will develop a joint project with their host institution that will contribute in areas such as: life sciences, natural resources, innovation, production, social sciences, education, art, and culture.
Two of the main Scientifics in the mememtum's team - Justo García de Yébenes and María Ángeles Mena - have designed and lead an ambitious project to test several hypotheses related to Parkinson's disease working with the team composed by Lissette Lalvay, nursery specialist; Andrea Mora and Miguel Lara, physicians and Fernando Alarcón, manager of the neurological department of Eugenio Espejo Hospital.
This project consists on the analysis of simple and more complex hand movements using the tactile screen of a smartphone to gather information on number of taps, fatigue and regularity on patients with idiopathic Parkinson's (EP), vascular Parkinson's (EPV), their sons and daughters, healthy subjects and other essential tremor patients.
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Conclusions:
Scientific data support to our main hypothesis: the use of specific test to measure motor symptoms can be used to evaluate the state of neurological patients and to detect early premotor symptoms.
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Improvements on tests and tools have also been identified and incorporated to the Tool Improvement and Development Work Package.
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Deriverables:
~ Two on-going scientific papers to be soon published in Q1 2016.
~ A specific set of improvements in the current tests and new ones to enhance the neurological evaluation accuracy incorporated to the mememtum 3.0 product management document.
~ Usability improvements from both patients and medical professionals incorporated to the mememtum 3.0 product management document.
Product usability:
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Workshops and interviews with:
- Neurologists
- Patients
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Care givers
...have been held to identify improvements on the product and new features.
A specific study to validate all the tests has been designed in collaboration with one of the main neurological hospitals in Spain.
We have identified a product validation company with large experience in testing health devices and software in real environment located in The Netherlands.
Deliverables:
~ Product improvement and usability report incorporated to the mememtum 3.0 product management document.
~ Key features for market agents incorporated to the mememtum 3.0 product management document.
Business Model Validation:
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Several sessions and specific workshops have been held with the business team - Taniwa staff, EU Commission Coach, consulting partners - to identify product and markets based on our technology.
Competitors analysis has helped us to identify the unique value proposal of mememtum and how to address it to the appropriate market and customers.
We have based our conclusions on the Business Plan model using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) such as Return of Investment, EBITDA and scalability of the solution.
Health market has been analyzed in both vertical and horizontal fields: Territorial, markets, public and private sector.
Finally face-to-face meetings have been maintained with decision takers of the main companies related to the business model of our product seeking for: Validation and/or partnership with fruitful results.
Viability of the commercial proposal:
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Different approaches have taken place in this area: one of them identifying risks and barriers to overcome, and on the other hand testing the commercial viability and scalability of the final product(s).
In the first area we have work together with a Intellectual Property and Patents consulting firm to study the state of the art and the patents scenario in the neurological analysis field. A Freedom to Operate analysis and a IP Protection Director Plan with specific action we have already started to accomplish.
In the same direction we have analysed the Spanish and European regulation about medical devices and the procedures and practices to follow. We have designed a Certification Plan and identified a consulting specialist to hire during the process.
In several internal workshops we have identified 3 different products derived from our technology and 4 different markets to address. Interviews and business model validation have been the base of our process, stressing the models to choose the best combination based on:
Value added and opportunities.
Market size and scalability.
Counting on the best partners and channel to customers.
As a summary: data is the key for our product and business model
Partners:
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We see the process of selecting partners as a key aspect of our success.
After several iterations and a large set of meeting and approaches, we have succeeded in finding partners in the following areas:
~ Patients Associations. Focus and usability validation.
~ Scientific/Neurologists: Solid scientific background.
~ Care Centres: Users and elderly tests.
~ Hospitals: Clinical and business plan (part A)validation.
~ Health Technical and Software suppliers: Channel to reach health systems and hospitals.
~ Insurance Companies: Channel to preventive business model.
~ Pharma: Get directives and features for product and data mining interests. Customers.
