Simple screening test for early Alzheimer’s?

December 4, 2018 Staff reporters

Retinal imaging device manufacturer Optos and Amydis, which has developed a pipeline of compounds to detect amyloid proteins in the retina, are collaborating to develop an early diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s Disease.

In a media release, the companies say the partnership aims to expand Japanese company Optos’ market opportunity into the field of neurodegeneration by combining Optos’ proprietary ultra-widefield technology and strong commercial presence among eyecare specialists, with Amydis’ proprietary compounds, which bind to specific biomarkers in the retina and fluoresce making them visible with an optomap retinal camera.  

Optus CEO,Robert Kennedy, commented, “We are proud of the ongoing use of optomap imaging devices in clinical research to visualise biomarkers in the retina associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.  We are pleased to work with Amydis in this important alliance and the benefit it may bring to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Dr Stella Sarraf, chief executive officer of Amydis commented, “We are very excited with the opportunity to use our targeted fluorescent probe technology with Optos’ ultra-widefield retinal cameras to develop a simple screening test to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease.”