Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research developments
New glove improves muscle spasm recovery after stroke
A glove-like wearable medical device has been designed by Stanford University and the Georgia Institute of Technology that aims to help with muscle spasms following a stroke. The team have said the glove achieves results that are as good or better than current treatments.
Adolescents with concussion may benefit from more activity earlier
Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that limiting screen time and returning to school early following a concussion may speed up recovery. The findings showed the average time children returned to school after a concussion was almost one week. Symptoms resolved more slowly when returning to school was delayed. Additionally, participating in club activities was associated with faster symptom resolution.
AT2R activation improves neurological deficiencies caused by TBI in mice
A study has revealed that Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) activation improves neurological and cardiac deficiencies caused by traumatic brain injury in mice. The results indicated that treatment with an AT2R agonist (C21) 24 hours after TBI alleviated blood-brain barrier leakage and brain swelling, inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the brain and heart, and benefited cardiac function.
Pioneering genetic biobank to start recruiting patients on stroke prevention medicines
The UK’s Yellow Card Biobank is to start investigating a new group of medicines known as Direct Oral Anticoagulants. The Yellow Card Biobank, a pilot launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England, aims to help understand how a patient’s genetic makeup can impact the safety of their medicines and forms part of a long-term vision for more personalised medicine approaches. Approved scientists will use the genetic information in the Biobank to investigate whether a side effect from a medicine was caused by a specific genetic trait. This would in turn enable healthcare professionals to personalise prescriptions using rapid screening tests, so patients across the UK will receive the safest medication for them, based on their genetic makeup.
Company updates
Grant for ALS treatment
Myrobalan Therapeutics has confirmed it has received a $400,000 grant from the ALS Association to support the advancement of its colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Myrobalan is a biotechnology company developing novel oral small-molecule therapies to repair damage and restore brain function in high-unmet need central nervous system (CNS) conditions.
Arkuda Therapeutics enters purchase agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Arkuda Therapeutics has entered into an option and asset purchase agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, which grants Janssen an exclusive option to purchase Arkuda’s portfolio of lysosomal function enhancers. Arkuda applies novel insights at the intersection of lysosomal biology and neuronal health to develop medicines that change the trajectory of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Frontotemporal dementia.
Technology
AI software for clinical decision making following stroke endorsed by NICE
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has endorsed the use of Brainomix’s AI software, Brainomix 360, to help clinical decision-making in strokes. Nice has confirmed that the software can be use within the NHS while further evidence is collected to determine its cost-effectiveness.
AI to integrate with Alzheimer’s treatment device
Neurophet, which specialises in developing solutions for diagnosis support, treatment guides, and treatment devices targeting brain diseases based on AI technology, has confirmed it has entered into a partnership with ReadyCure. The partnership will see the parties develop a dementia treatment system called Helaxon which can analyse and detect white matter degeneration in brain MRI scans of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
