14.02.2023

As part of an effort to drive the development of cutting-edge biomarkers and explore novel diagnostic technologies, ToxGenSolutions BV has identified a peripheral profile of 9 microRNAs (miRNAs) to identify individuals at risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) years in advance.

The goal of the program is to diagnose late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease:

1. Faster by turning the months/years it takes for the current diagnostic approach into hours.
2. Cheaper by eliminating the dependence on expensive imaging.
3. More accurate in the prodromal phase of the disease. Currently, nearly 50% of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) do not develop dementia.
4. Less invasive and more patient-friendly by replacing CSF sampling with a standard blood draw.

It is our pleasure to announce that the Diagnostics Accelerator at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) will support ToxGenSolutions BV in this endeavour.

28.10.2022

This proposal addresses the objective to drive the development of cutting-edge biomarkers and to explore novel diagnostic technologies.

The ultimate goal of our program is to make diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD):

1. faster by turning the months/years it takes for the current diagnostic approach into hours,
2. cheaper by eliminating expensive scans (e.g., €2,000-€2,500/$3,000-$4,500 for PET scans),
3. more accurate in the prodromal phase of the disease with currently 50% of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) not developing dementia,
4. less invasive by replacing CSF sampling with blood sampling (urine as an option).

Our work-hypothesis: Individuals at risk for progressing into AD must be identified early if future drugs (once available) are to have any effect on the quality of life. Thus, novel biomarkers should reflect processes that are in transition from normal physiology into AD related pathology before neurons start to die off and the brain volume shrinks.

Next step: The prognostic profile is currently being validated with the support from the EU EuroStars programme. The product will be a biosensor device providing results within 3 hours after the blood/urine sample was taken, with a 90% accuracy according to the data that emerged from a pilot study.

Outreach: ToxGenSolutions is reaching out to investors and companies active in the field of diagnostics and drug development with the purpose of setting up commercial collaborations.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has also impacted the progress being made by the #Interreg. Vlaanderen-Nederland project ”Herinneringen” (”Memories”). But, progress was made, and the prolongation with 6 months that was approved by #Interreg. will allow us to reach the goal. Read more about it in our latest newsletter.

https://herinneringen.eu

Differentially expression analysis of human iPSCs derived neurons, and human brain slices, blood samples and cerebrospinal fluid from Alzheimer’s patients and control individuals has identified 20 potential biomarkers affecting processes and pathways that are relevant for Alzheimer’s disease progression.

For further information: https://herinneringen.eu/nl

After several months of lockdown, the Interreg. VL-NL supported project Herinneringen (Memories) was able to finalize the genetic analyses of the human iPSC derived neurons exposed to selected environmental risk factors and biopsies from Alzheimer’s patients and control individuals. Differential gene and pathway analysis revealed processes in patient derived iPSC and biopsies that were not seen in material from control individuals. Currently, 9 miR’s have caught our attention for further evaluation.

The symposium took place in the very attractive location called Promotie Zaal at the KULeuven which breaths the ancient atmosphere of scientific lectures and thesis defenses over the past centuries.

During the scientific morning session researchers from the universities of Hasselt, Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp provided an update on the current status of Alzheimer’s research in general and within our project. Our understanding of the mechanisms driving the development of Alzheimer’s disease is growing and may result in the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics.

The afternoon session targeted the general public. Kim Plasman (Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek Belgium) Prof. Frans Verhey (University Maastricht), Prof. Sebastiaan Engelborghs (Universiteit of Antwerp) and Prof. Jos Kleinjans (University Maastricht) gave their more general overview about the current knowledge of this neurodegenerative disease. The Dutch journalist and publicist Hugo Borst closed the Symposium with sharing his personal experiences with his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, reading touching passages from his latest book “Ach moedertje”.

ToxGenSolutions presented a poster showing the approach adopted by the Interreg. project to develop a test for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease before it strikes (29th AEC_poster_PO.20.11). The congress was characterized by a high representation of technologies and technological developments that focusses on monitoring the patients. Presentations on scientific progress were limited, and focussing on the clinical phase of disease: ”Looking at Alzheimer’s through the peephole of dementia” as one of the speakers stated. Beside our poster, there was little, if at all, focus on the impact of environmental factors on induction and development of Alzheimer’s.  

The INTERREG Vlaanderen-Nederland project ”Herinneringen” (”Memories”) organises its 2019 Symposium STOP ALZHEIMER on Monday December 16 in the wonderful ‘Promotiezaal’ of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven).
The programme offers science (in English) and more down-to-earth information (in Dutch) targeting patients, patient organizations and healthcare workers. There will be space for questions, discussion and networking in a relaxed atmosphere.

1. Optimization of in vitro exposure regimes to assure risk factor induced adverse effects in the absence of cytotoxicity.
2. Hitting the road.

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