Inactive

Leading pharmaceutical company seeks startups for early detection of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Deadline: June 18, 2020

A leading pharmaceutical company in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is interested in speaking with startups whose technology could contribute to very early diagnosis of the disease. If your startup has developed novel approaches to measuring any of the Early Symptoms of ALS or Early Experiences of ALS Patients (listed separately below), please consider reaching out through this opportunity.

Selection will be made in June and meeting series will start in mid-July. Linking into the series will be people from the company involved with digital technologies to enhance performance of established and newer therapies.  In the case that there is common interest, from the company’s standpoint, this could translate into a partnership or investment.

Early Symptoms of ALS (usually in arms or hands, but sometimes in a leg)

  • muscle weakness
  • muscle tightness (spasticity)
  • muscle cramping
  • muscle twitching (fasciculations)
  • muscle atrophy

Early Experiences of ALS Patients (can include)

  • fatigue
  • poor balance
  • slurred words
  • loss of grip strength
  • tendency to trip or fall when walking

Proof of concept already achieved in a neurological disease is preferred, but not required. Technologies that can be used through a platform that runs on mobile devices is also preferred. The company is interested in tools suitable for home use or point of care. Below are some advanced examples.

 Advanced Examples

  • startups that could use interactions with computers and other devices as indicators for changes in health
  • startups that could use vocal biomarkers to detect changes in health
  • startups that could monitor vital signs, quality of sleep, and daytime movement
Deadline: June 18, 2020
Posted on: May 20, 2020
Industry: life science

A leading pharmaceutical company in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is interested in speaking with startups whose technology could contribute to very early diagnosis of the disease. If your startup has developed novel approaches to measuring any of the Early Symptoms of ALS or Early Experiences of ALS Patients (listed separately below), please consider reaching out through this opportunity.

Selection will be made in June and meeting series will start in mid-July. Linking into the series will be people from the company involved with digital technologies to enhance performance of established and newer therapies.  In the case that there is common interest, from the company’s standpoint, this could translate into a partnership or investment.

Early Symptoms of ALS (usually in arms or hands, but sometimes in a leg)

  • muscle weakness
  • muscle tightness (spasticity)
  • muscle cramping
  • muscle twitching (fasciculations)
  • muscle atrophy

Early Experiences of ALS Patients (can include)

  • fatigue
  • poor balance
  • slurred words
  • loss of grip strength
  • tendency to trip or fall when walking

Proof of concept already achieved in a neurological disease is preferred, but not required. Technologies that can be used through a platform that runs on mobile devices is also preferred. The company is interested in tools suitable for home use or point of care. Below are some advanced examples.

 Advanced Examples

  • startups that could use interactions with computers and other devices as indicators for changes in health
  • startups that could use vocal biomarkers to detect changes in health
  • startups that could monitor vital signs, quality of sleep, and daytime movement

Application Requirements

In your response, please indicate

  1. Startup fit - Explain concisely what you offer & your match with the above
  2. Customer traction - Any relevant use cases / customer stories (can indicate industry/size if not ready to go public)
  3. Stage of startup / maturity of technology
  • Application Requirements

    In your response, please indicate

    1. Startup fit - Explain concisely what you offer & your match with the above
    2. Customer traction - Any relevant use cases / customer stories (can indicate industry/size if not ready to go public)
    3. Stage of startup / maturity of technology

Disclaimer:  MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.