Applied Cognition develops therapeutics by targeting the glymphatic system, a mechanism for clearing waste from the brain. The company utilizes a proprietary, non-invasive platform for real-time glymphatic measurement to identify and screen drug candidates. Their pipeline focuses on lead compounds for high-value neurological indications including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Funding
$22.5M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Current treatments do not address the underlying biological causes of poor sleep, which significantly impacts brain waste clearance and cognitive function. The accumulation of neurodegenerative proteins, such as amyloid and tau, due to impaired glymphatic function during sleep contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Solution
Applied Cognition is developing a platform to measure and enhance glymphatic function during sleep, targeting the biological mechanisms that contribute to neurodegeneration. Their approach involves using advances in microtechnology, biophysics, and AI to quantify glymphatic function in humans. By measuring brain parenchymal resistance to glymphatic flow via transcranial multifrequency impedance spectroscopy and sleep electroencephalography (EEG), Applied Cognition aims to develop therapeutics that increase the overnight clearance of amyloid and tau proteins, potentially delaying the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Their lead asset, ACX02, has demonstrated a clinically significant increase in overnight clearance of amyloid and tau.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes individuals at risk of or in the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as researchers and clinicians focused on sleep biology, glymphatic function, and neurodegeneration.
Features
- Platform to measure glymphatic function in humans using microtechnology, biophysics, and AI
- Transcranial multifrequency impedance spectroscopy to measure brain parenchymal resistance to glymphatic flow (R P)
- EEG monitoring during sleep to assess sleep architecture and its impact on glymphatic function
- Identification of drug candidates, such as ACX02, that enhance glymphatic function and increase overnight clearance of amyloid and tau
- Clinical trials to validate the efficacy of drug candidates in improving glymphatic function and reducing AD biomarkers
- Continuous measurement of glymphatic function in humans