The Next-Generation of Small, Cost-Effective and Mobile Brain Scanner for an Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

Projektinformationen

BPET

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 855292

DOI

10.3030/855292

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 28 Januar 2019

Startdatum 1 Februar 2019

Enddatum 31 Mai 2019

Finanziert unter

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Gesamtkosten

€ 71 429,00

EU-Beitrag

€ 50 000,00

Koordiniert durch

POSITRIGO AG
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BPET (The Next-Generation of Small, Cost-Effective and Mobile Brain Scanner for an Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease)

Berichtszeitraum: 2019-02-01 bis 2019-05-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

Global aging societies have a higher incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. dementia (50 M people), but early diagnosis for a prompt intervention and to avoid adverse outcomes is an unmet need. Currently, there are near 70 disease-modifying drugs in trial for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but without efficient early detection they will not prove useful. Brain imaging to detect AD biomarkers using positron emission tomography (PET) is the gold standard for early neurodegeneration assessment, but traditional whole-body PET scanners are big, expensive, and therefore not routinely used. Positrigo is a Swiss start-up, with the aim to offer CortEx as a new dedicated PET brain scanner. It is a small, mobile and affordable device that occupies 5x less space and can deliver results at a fraction of today’s costs. It has the potential to become a game-changer in brain imaging and make AD diagnosis widely accessible. We have built a first functional prototype and achieved pre-clinical proof of concept. Now we need to optimize our scanner, obtain market access through regulatory processes, prepare manufacturing scaling-up, refine our commercialization strategies, engage with key stakeholders and plan market launch.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

CortEx first prototype was designed, developed and preliminary tested, and our intellectual property rights initially protected by means of a patent application and trademark. During the feasibility study, we identified main needs at the technical, marketing and financial level and we were able to describe potential partners and users as well as target markets. We also build-up a roadmap to clinical validation of CortEx and regulatory approvals and a plan for IP management. Finally, we defined main strategies to commercialize our brain scanners in Europe, USA and other key regions, estimate our growth potential and preliminary propose a work plan with main actions to be performed during the next 2 years until market launch.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

CortEx is a mobile brain scanner 5x smaller and 10x cheaper. By user-centered design and development, it achives the desired spatial resolution and sensitivity to measure Aβ and tau proteins (hallmarks of AD). It will greatly increase access to diagnosis, allowing prompt treatment and monitoring, and help to accelerate drug development. This improved capacity makes the healthcare systems more efficient in care quality, will generate large cost savings on the nursing home sector, and enhance the life of patients and their families.

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