Biogenum Funds Expansion of Cognition Study in Running Birth Cohort

Posted by Donald Hood on December 9th, 2019

1888 Press Release - The company is currently investing in more than 58 active best-of-field projects in 7 countries.

Biogenum (ISIN: KR7013369996), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegeneration, is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Hong Kong Medical University to study brain aging and dementia in 300 individuals, whose health and health-related behaviors have been documented since birth. Funds from the Biogenum investment division will allow researchers to more accurately detect the influence of both genetics and behaviors on dementia risk across the life course of this unique population.

“This is the only study of its kind in the Southeast Asia Region where we have a lifetime of health information recorded from people who are now at an age where dementia is a common health issue,” said Shin Hye-sung, Executive Vice President and Chief R&D Officer . “Through the additional data and analyses enabled by this grant from Biogenum, we hope to learn more about brain aging, including the opportunity to pinpoint dementia risk factors that could potentially be modifiable."

The Medical Research Assembly General Survey of Health and Development, otherwise referred to as the “Birth cohort study” is a representative sample of 3,255 of individuals who were all born in the same week. These individuals have been assessed 24 times throughout their lives, allowing researchers to collect important health information.

The 5-year study will include cognitive and neurological tests, brain scans and other health assessments in the 300 new participants. The study also brings back 100 individuals from the other studies of its kind, who will receive the same assessments, as well as a brain scan that identifies a key Alzheimer’s protein called Tau.

“We are grateful to the Biogenum’s commitment to funding the detailed assessments of even more individuals from this cohort,” said the study’s principal investigator. “The funding is enabling us to advance our understanding of how risk factors throughout life can affect your eventual risk of dementia, to develop better preventative health strategies, identify people at risk of dementia, and improve clinical trials.”

About Biogenum
Biogenum is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapies for patients with neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS and others. The quality, simplicity and sensitivity of its products brings precision medicine within reach. Composed of proprietary chemistry and software, Biogenum delivers powerful answers using broadly installed instrument platforms. The company’s leadership team has decades of experience in drug discovery, translational strategy, corporate development and commercialization. Collectively, we have been instrumental in researching more than 10 drugs to be delivered in the market.

http://www.biogenum.com