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"2015 World Medical Innovation Forum" cites "Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease" as the top field where breakthroughs will be made
ACTON, Mass., May 11, 2015 — Cognoptix Chairman, CEO and President Paul Hartung is encouraged by recent clinical developments in the early treatment of Alzheimer's disease and reiterated that his company is accelerating development of its Sapphire II eye scan to enable identification of candidates for these disease-modifying treatments. Mr. Hartung was especially pleased by the enthusiasm among clinicians at the recently convened "2015 World Medical Innovation Health Forum" in Boston hosted by Partners Healthcare.
Cognoptix is moving forward with previously announced plans to conduct a pivotal clinical trial of itsSAPPHIRE II eye test designed to aid in the diagnosis Alzheimer's disease. Results of a successful Phase II clinical trial of its SAPPHIRE II eye test have been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias® (AJA), and presented at the Alzhiemer's Association International Conference® (AAIC). The Cognoptix® SAPPHIRE II eye test achieved a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 95% in differentiating 20 patients who were clinically diagnosed with probable AD from a group of 20 age-matched healthy volunteers in a Phase II clinical trial. In addition, the SAPPHIRE II test showed superior correlation to PET (positron emission tomography) amyloid brain imaging, with 95% specificity for SAPPHIRE II versus 80% for PET brain imaging. SAPPHIRE II non-invasively measures amyloid beta (Aβ) in the human lens, by detecting the fluorescent signature from aftobetin HCl, a novel amyloid–binding compound applied topically in the form of an ophthalmic ointment.
Recently, Biogen announced data from a Phase 1b study of aducanumab at the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders. The experimental drug sharply slowed the decline in mental function in a small clinical trial. The drug is designed to destroy amyloid plaque, which is believed to be a cause of the dementia in Alzheimer's disease.
Also complementary to Cognoptix's efforts, is a ground breaking clinical trial, testing whether Eli Lilly's investigational drug Solanezumab can slow down or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. Patient who are not yet exhibiting signs of memory loss, but who also have brain scans suggesting they will get Alzheimer's in the future are being treated in this study.
"With a simple eye test to identify early-onset AD, plus a drug to that could rid the brain of plaque, we could change the paradigm for treating, and beating, Alzheimer's disease by allowing treatment to startbefore significant neuronal loss and irreversible brain damage occur," said Mr. Hartung.
About Cognoptix
Cognoptix, a privately held medical technology company headquartered in Acton, Mass., is focused on developing and commercializing an in-office, drug/device diagnostic system—SAPPHIRE II— as an aid in the early detection of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In addition to Launchpad Venture Group, Cognoptix investors also include Alopexx Enterprises and Inventages Venture Capital.
NOTE: The SAPPHIRE II system is approved for investigational use only in the United States.
@ copyright 2015