A promising ultrasound therapy to potentially restore brain function in people with Alzheimer’s disease has been licensed to a new start-up emerged from the University of Queensland.
The therapeutic ultrasound technology developed by Professor Jürgen Götz from UQs The Queensland Brain Institute will be developed by Ceretas towards clinical use, with the company aiming to validate the system for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The technology uses targeted pressure waves of sound to activate the brain’s ability to increase neuronal signaling and remove pathological proteins that build up in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The therapy increases neuronal signaling and thereby restores memory and cognition by improving communication between brain cells.
But it also targets and clears the buildup of the toxic proteins amyloid and tau by activating the brain’s intrinsic clearance mechanism.”
Professor Jürgen Götz from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute
The global incidence of dementia is predicted to reach 82 million by 2030, with an estimated 80 percent of people with dementia will have Alzheimer’s disease, characterized by cognitive impairment and memory loss.
Professor Götz said current medicines target the progression of the disease and its symptoms, but do not offer patients a cure.
“Therapeutic ultrasound offers a non-invasive way to improve cognition,” he said.
“Treatment could also potentially be personalized for multiple neurological conditions, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), conditions caused by brain tumors and mental disorders.”
The first human clinical safety study of the new ultrasound medical device was successfully completed in 2024, led by a QBI physician-researcher Professor Peter Nestor.
The results of the trial are expected to be published in early 2025.
Ceretas was founded by UQ’s commercialization company UniQuest in partnership with early-stage investors and co-founders Ryan Laws and Sam Wetzler.
Mr Laws said it was an exciting prospect to further expand therapeutic ultrasound treatment.
“It’s not often that you see potentially game-changing technology paired with brilliant people looking to tap into a market that only seems to be expanding, so this opportunity really excites me,” said Mr Laws.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said it was pleasing to see the therapeutic ultrasound technology progressing into the clinic with investor support.
“With an aging population leading to an increase in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, it is testament to the quality of UQ research that potential new treatments are attracting investment to make a real difference,” said Dr. Moss.
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