Kurve Technology will participate in a upcoming clinical study conducted by investigators at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington
As part of the study Kurve will donate ten ViaNase electronic atomiser devices customised to the study's requirements.
The 21-day trial will study the effect of intranasal insulin delivery on the short-term memory of 30 patients with early stage Alzheimer's disease.
Previous studies conducted at the VA and the University of Washington have demonstrated that a single dose of intranasal insulin improved memory function for some patients with Alzheimer's disease.
"We are very excited to collaborate with a local biotechnology company on this important research," stated Suzanne Craft, VA principal investigator and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
"We have been searching for a device that efficiently delivers insulin via the nasal route.
"The fact that ViaNase allows patients to self-administer study formulations at home is crucial to this study".
The blood-brain barrier that separates the brain interstitial fluid from the circulating blood provides an efficient barrier for the diffusion of most drugs from the blood to the brain and central nervous system (CNS).
In recent years, interest has been expressed in the use of the nasal route to deliver drugs to the brain for treatment of common neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
"The olfactory region located in the upper regions of the nasal cavity offers a potential route for compounds to circumvent the blood-brain barrier and enter into the brain," stated William DeGroodt, Kurve Technology's president.
"Kurve's Controlled Particle Dispersion technology has unparalleled advantages over spray pumps and pipettes in delivering formulations to olfactory regions of the nasal cavity.
"We hope that one day this advantage can contribute to improved quality of life for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders".
According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a number expected to increase to 11-16 million by 2050.
Finding a treatment that could delay onset by five years could reduce the number of individuals with Alzheimer's disease by nearly 50 percent after 50 years.
