MOBILE health app MindMate, which is used by over one million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain injury and cognitive decline, is collaborating with an Australia-based biotechnology company to develop treatments for Alzheimer’s and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
Glasgow-based MindMate, founded by German-born Susanne Mitschke, Rogelio Arellano from Mexico and Patrick Renner, also from Germany – all graduates from the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde – are working with Actinogen Medical to recruit patients for the company’s XanADu trial, currently in Phase II, to prove the effectiveness of its Xanamem drug in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Australian Securities Exchange-listed Actinogen will use MindMate’s cognitive health software to recruit patients for the trial in the US, Australia and UK. The trial, which will involve the University of Edinburgh, aims to inhibit the excess production of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain.
Xanamem was developed in response to evidence that high cortisol levels have a strong association with Alzheimer’s.
Ms Mitschke, MindMate’s chief executive, said: “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with one of the leading research organisations in Scotland and shows that Scotland is continuing to drive innovation through world-leading biotech developments.”
A high number of clinical trials fail to meet recruitment goals, leading to delays, increased costs and inadequate results, she pointed out, and the partnership will allow Actinogen to identify the right patient population faster. In the UK alone, more than 850,000 people live with Alzheimer’s and this number is projected to increase to over one million over the next six years.
MindMate, a former winner of the Converge Challenge, the business creation competition open to staff, students and recent graduates from Scotland’s universities and research institutions, was founded just three years ago.
In 2016, the company was selected as the first-ever Scottish start-up to join the Techstars NYC accelerator programme and Ms Mitschke, Mr Arellano and Mr Renner were recently named as Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs.
Earlier this year, MindMate raised about $2 million from a series of international investors to accelerate new therapies in the clinical research space.
The free app helps baby-boomers manage their cognitive health through daily games and challenges, tailored physical exercises and nutritional advice as well as tracking mood and sleep.
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