LONDON (Alliance News) - IXICO PLC said Thursday it will take part in a GBP16 million collaboration launched by publicly funded government agency the Medical Research Council to speed up research into dementia.
The MRC has launched the UK Dementias Research Platform with the aim of seeking earlier detection, improved treatment, and ultimately prevention of dementia.
IXICO will act as an imaging partner for the collaboration, providing its dementia diagnosis product Assessa.
"With two million volunteers providing data, this is the world's largest study into dementias, and we look forward to working with both industry and academic experts to gain a greater understanding of this debilitating condition," said Chief Executive Derek Hill in a statement.
Other partners on the project including Araclon Biotech SL, AstraZeneca PLC's MedImmune arm, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Janssen Research & Development LLC and SomaLogic Inc. All of the companies have agreed to share access to their research resources to the collaboration, to provide a basis for joint studies.
Six months ago at the G8 summit on dementia in London, the UK joined other nations in committing to finding a cure for the disease by 2025. The UK plans to double its annual researching funding into dementia to GBP132 million by 2025.
Shares in IXICO are down 0.8% Thursday late morning at 60.00 pence.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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Ixico (IXI)