Our unique science, stemming from the work of our founding scientist, Peter Davies, Ph.D., is focused on developing a range of diagnostic tests and novel therapeutics.  Through our collaboration with a top tier Pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and Company, our tau-based science is the foundation of the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to modify the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Our core technology in the AD field is based on exclusive licenses with Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) covering all diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the field of neurodegenerative disease discovered in the AECOM laboratories of Peter Davies, Ph.D.  Dr. Davies, the Company’s founding scientist, is the Burton P. and Judith Resnick Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease Research at AECOM, and was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Alzheimer’s Disease at the Alzheimer’s Association’s 11th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) held in Chicago in July 2008.

Dr. Davies research has focused primarily on Alzheimer’s disease and the roll of certain proteins, primarily hyperphosphorylated tau, which are involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles within neurons (nerve cells).  Excessive phosphorylation of tau (the addition of one or more phosphate groups, which are comprised of phosphorous and oxygen) prevents it from stabilizing microtubules, thereby causing the breakdown of the transit system of the nerve cell.  This internal neuronal damage leads to the development of the paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles which are contributing factors to the eventual death of the neurons related to Alzheimer’s disease.  Tau in this abnormally phosphorylated form is the building block for the paired helical filaments and the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs); one of the hallmark pathologies associated with AD.  There is a high correlation among the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau, NFTs and AD.  Thus, it is believed that the hyperphosphorylated tau represents an early abnormality in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.  Research described in numerous articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals demonstrates that abnormal tau represents an appropriate target for research on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Davies has been applying his expertise in research directed towards abnormal tau for many years and, together with Applied NeuroSolutions scientists, has developed a large number of proprietary antibodies and tools which are being used in the development of APNS’s diagnostic pipeline to detect AD, and targets directed at AD therapeutic solutions.