I’m pleased to share that the science team has made rapid progress in executing the 18 month work plan developed in collaboration with a major pharma company to establish “proof of concept” for a therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

We have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs or exosomes) purified from culture medium of Natural Killer (NK) cells, are able to rapidly induce microglia (brain immune cells) to vacuum up aggregated amyloid protein and to degrade this efficiently. EVs from other cell sources can’t influence microglia in this way. This
could mean an accelerated clearance of amyloid plaques found in AD patients. The NK cell EVs are also anti-inflammatory in their effects on microglia. Present studies are examining the effects of NK cell EVs on astrocytes and neurones and abnormal Tau protein phosphorylation – a problem also seen in AD. We are getting close to defining the EV therapy product and expect to commence animal studies shortly.

The science team has been strengthened by appointment of a new research assistant and biotechnology expertise to accelerate the preclinical development.

In parallel, we have been diligently working to secure funding for the initial work of the company and this is progressing well with strong support of individual investors and interest from funds and early-stage venture providers.

We are also advancing partnership arrangements with a leading laboratory at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University and with several other national and international research institutions. These collaborations will embed our work within a very strong science-based environment. The company is also continuing a close working relationship with Cartherics Pty Ltd.

Initial safety studies will be conducted in both aged and young mice by the Evinco team followed by studies on AD model mice and dogs that spontaneously show “Canine Cognitive Dysfunction” – which closely resembles AD in humans. Together, these studies are expected to generate strong preclinical evidence for the therapeutic nasal delivery of NK cell EVs.