Biogen to Launch Pioneering Study to Develop Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Health Using Apple Watch and iPhone
January 11 2021 - 7:30AM
Biogen to Launch Pioneering Study to Develop Digital Biomarkers of
Cognitive Health Using Apple Watch and iPhone
Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced a new virtual research
study, in collaboration with Apple, to investigate the role Apple
Watch and iPhone could play in monitoring cognitive performance
and screening for decline in cognitive health including mild
cognitive impairment (MCI).
The multi-year, observational research study will be launched
later in 2021 and will enroll participants including young and
aging adults with a range of cognitive performance. Driven by the
powerful technology in Apple Watch and iPhone and Biogen’s in-depth
knowledge of neuroscience, the study’s primary objectives are
to develop digital biomarkers to help monitor cognitive performance
over time and identify early signs of MCI. For aging adults,
cognitive health is becoming increasingly recognized as an
important component of overall health. However, significant delays
exist in identifying declines in cognitive health including MCI,
which impacts approximately 15 – 20 percent of adults over the
age of 65. The onset of symptoms is often subtle, ranging from
being easily distracted to memory loss, and can take months to
years before cognitive decline comes to the attention of health
care providers.
The virtual study allows adult users across the aging lifespan
to join. The study has been designed with customer privacy, control
and transparency in mind as well as data security. Participants,
who can stop taking part in the study at any time, will complete a
detailed consent form listing the collected data types and how each
may be used and shared. Data will be stored in an encrypted manner
and in systems with strong security controls designed to protect
the data.“Cognitive decline can be an early symptom of
neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. The successful development
of digital biomarkers in brain health would help address the
significant need to accelerate patient diagnoses and empower
physicians and individuals to take timely action,” said Michel
Vounatsos, CEO at Biogen. “For healthcare systems, such
advancements in cognitive biomarkers from large-scale studies could
contribute significantly to prevention and better population-based
health outcomes, and lower costs to health systems. Bringing
together the best of neuroscience with the best of technology
creates a wonderful prospect for patients and public health.”
“Working in collaboration with Biogen, we hope this study can help
the medical community better understand a person's cognitive
performance by simply having them engage with their Apple
Watch and iPhone,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating
officer. “We’re looking forward to learning about the impact
our technology can have in delivering better health outcomes
through improved detection of declining cognitive health.”“This is
terrific news for all of us who are interested in our brain
health,” said George Vradenburg, Chairman and Cofounder of
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, a patient-led non-profit pushing to
prevent dementia through ongoing attention to brain health. “Just
as we today use new digital and mobile tools to help us monitor and
improve our cardiovascular health, this new study will help us
learn how to use those same tools to monitor and improve our brain
health. We have learned repeatedly that detecting disease at
its earliest stage is our best bet to treat it effectively. To that
end, this exciting study could enable us to learn how to get early
warning signs of cognitive decline which may be addressed
through lifestyle and therapeutic changes designed to slow or stop
the progression of brain disease.”
“Strategies that optimize brain health and improve cognitive
function are the key to reducing the risk of dementia and this
study has the potential to discover transformative ways to monitor
and assess brain health,” said Nora Super, executive director of
the Milken Institute Alliance to Improve Dementia Care. “We are
always eager to see technological innovation, and we are
particularly interested in the user convenience of data collected
through the use of everyday devices like Apple Watch and iPhone.
This type of innovation may enhance our understanding of the aging
brain and therefore may ultimately help us understand how to
maintain and improve brain health throughout adulthood.”
About Biogen
At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in
neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops and delivers worldwide
innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological
and neurodegenerative diseases as well as related therapeutic
adjacencies. One of the world’s first global biotechnology
companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz
Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and
Phillip Sharp. Today Biogen has the leading portfolio of medicines
to treat multiple sclerosis, has introduced the first approved
treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, commercializes biosimilars
of advanced biologics and is focused on advancing research programs
in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders,
ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, immunology, acute neurology and
neuropathic pain.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors
on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media –
Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube.
Biogen Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about the planned
research study of cognitive health, including the timing and
enrollment of such study; the identification and treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease; our research and development program for the
potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease; the potential benefits
from early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease; the potential benefits
and results that may be achieved through our collaboration with
Apple; the potential of our commercial business and pipeline
programs; and our strategy and plans. These statements may be
identified by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “will,” “would” and other words
and terms of similar meaning. You should not place undue reliance
on these statements or the scientific data presented.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in
such statements, including without limitation, the risk that we may
not fully enroll the planned research study or enrollment will take
longer than expected; risks of unexpected costs or delays; the risk
of other unexpected hurdles; failure to protect and enforce our
data, intellectual property and other proprietary rights and
uncertainties relating to intellectual property claims and
challenges; regulatory authorities may require additional
information or further studies; third party collaboration risks;
and the direct and indirect impacts of the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial
condition. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the
factors that could cause actual results to differ from our
expectations in any forward-looking statement. Investors should
consider this cautionary statement as well as the risk factors
identified in our most recent annual or quarterly report and in
other reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. These statements are based on our current beliefs and
expectations and speak only as of the date of this news release. We
do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise.
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BIOGEN MEDIA CONTACT: |
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BIOGEN INVESTOR CONTACT: |
David Caouette |
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Joe Mara |
Biogen Inc. |
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Biogen Inc. |
Tel: (781) 464-3260 |
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Tel: (781) 464-2442 |
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