South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) firm Neurophet has partnered with biopharma AriBio in a bid to develop a platform designed to speed up Alzheimer’s diagnoses.
The collaboration between the two Korean companies will see Neurphet’s brain image analysis technology, utilising magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alongside fluid biomarker data from AriBio's global Phase III clinical trial to detect early Alzheimer's disease.
Traditionally Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed using amyloid positron emission tomography scans (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests which require minor surgery. Neurophet and AriBio say their new platform is designed to sidestep costly PET scans and the complications of surgery to achieve a diagnosis.
Both companies aim to create a platform that can predict the risk of amyloid beta protein positivity early by conducting MRI analysis and blood-based biomarker tests instead of amyloid-PET scans. The companies say this will make access to Alzheimer’s testing cheaper and more available.
Neurophet will be working with AriBio for its global Phase III trial (NCT05531526) of AR1001, an oral treatment for Alzheimer's disease, with both companies utilising the medical image, blood, and CSF data obtained from the large-scale, multinational AR1001 study. The announcement comes a year after Neurophet secured 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis software.
Jake Junkil Been, CEO of Neurophet, said: “By participating in AriBio's global Phase III clinical trial of AR1001, a broad range of medical data will be obtained to achieve meaningful research outcomes in various fields. If this platform is successfully developed, it could significantly reduce medical costs associated with dementia diagnosis and treatment, while also improving patient convenience."
Jai Jun Choung, CEO of AriBio added, "AriBio is working on a safe and easy-to-take oral tablet to ensure accessibility and convenience for Alzheimer's disease patients and their families, and we hope to further enhance diagnostic accessibility through our collaboration with Neurophet."
Elsewhere in the Korean medical AI scene, Mediwhale has raised $12m in Series A2 financing round to advance its AI-powered retina scan technology.
