Shares of Athira Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) plunged almost 66.3%, or $5.60, to close at $2.85 on June 22 after the company disclosed top-line results from its exploratory phase II study with fosgonimeton (ATH-1017, fosgo) in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Alzheimer’s experts have suggested that future research may involve combination therapies after yet another trial failure involving a drug targeting amyloid – in this case Roche Holding AG’s crenezumab. Originally discovered by Swiss biotech AC Immune SA, of Lausanne, crenezumab failed to slow or prevent cognitive decline in people with a certain mutation that causes early onset in a closely watched trial.
Retispec Inc. and the Toronto Memory Program launched a community screening program for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) funded by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC). The program will provide two points of entry for screening—optometry clinics and the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. The project is one of 12 early detection efforts worldwide that received a total of $4.5 million in funding this week from DAC.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Ai-Brainscience Inc. signed an exclusive sales agreement for Japan that will see Otsuka market Ai-Brainscience’s eye-tracking application to test for cognitive function. The eye-tracking app, AiBS-01, could become the first dementia diagnosis application to receive regulatory approval in Japan. Ibaraki, Japan-based Ai-Brainscience (AiBS) is developing devices that use the eye-tracking based cognitive assessment test to detect early dementia beyond the conventional assessment methods performed by specialists.
Mark it as a day to remember. The U.S. FDA has awarded de novo marketing authorization for the first in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), enabling diagnosis of the dreaded disease years earlier than current clinical tests. Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc.’s Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40) measures specific proteins in cerebral spinal fluid to provide rapid assessment of the risk of amyloid plaques, an indicator of the disease that may develop decades before cognitive impairment occurs.
Mark it as a day to remember. Today the FDA authorized the first in vitro diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease, enabling diagnosis of the dreaded disease years earlier than current clinical tests. Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc.’s Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40) measures specific proteins in cerebral spinal fluid to provide rapid assessment of the risk of amyloid plaques, an indicator of the disease that may develop decades before cognitive impairment occurs.
The flop that is Aduhelm (aducanumab) made itself felt in Biogen Inc.’s executive suite as CEO Michael Vounatsos is leaving the company. He had the job for five and a half years and for less than a year after the controversial Alzheimer’s treatment was approved. He will stick around until a successor is found.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision last month restricting coverage of a class of Alzheimer’s drugs to clinical trials meeting the agency’s standards still isn’t sitting well with some lawmakers.
Making his first in-person appearance April 27 before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was prepared to answer questions about President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget that would increase HHS’ discretionary budget to $127 billion, nearly a 27% increase over the 2021 enacted level.
Mitorx Therapeutics Ltd. is poised to develop small molecules that reverse impaired sulphide signaling underlying degenerative diseases ranging from Duchenne muscular dystrophy to Alzheimer’s disease. The company was formed some time ago as a spinout from Exeter University, where the founding scientist Matt Whiteman is professor of experimental therapeutics. It is showing its colors for the first time after closing a seed funding round.
