GHP October 2016

22 | ghp October 2016 Innovation & Technology Collaborations between Pharma and Diagnostic Companies Boost Growth for Neurodiagnostics The incidence of neurological disorders is escalating and the lack of early diagnostic techniques places the spotlight on innovations in this space. While software platforms are available for processing neuroimag- ing data, there are limited algorithms for diagnostic and clinical analyses. However, several cloud-based storage platforms exist for exchange and analyses of a vast amount of global neurological data. As companies look to develop quantitative software techniques for the detection and analyses of various neuropatholo- gies, neuroinformatics is poised for a growth spurt in the near future. The new study, Diagnostic breakthroughs for neuro- degenerative diseases (http://frost.ly/qs ), a part of the TechVision (Medical Devices & Imaging) subscription, finds that while neuroimaging techniques continue to be the gold standard for neurodiagnostic applications, innovations in biomarker-based diagnostics and inte- grated neuroinformatic tools will drive the future of this sector. Clinical neuropathologies such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are likely to have the largest market impact on diagnostics in the near future. There is an increased collaboration between the phar- maceutical and diagnostic sectors for patient selection during clinical trials, which is fuelling the growth of the companion diagnostic market for neurological disorders. This means that the companion diagnostic market will mirror the growth pattern of the cancer diagnostic sector, expanding the opportunities for diagnostics developers. Advancements in biomarker studies will aid in early diagnosis and enable timely clinical interventions. “As it is difficult to offer a conclusive diagnosis using a single technique, neuroimaging techniques are most often used in combination with other technologies or as an adjunct to the clinical diagnosis of neurological diseases,” said TechVision research analyst Vandana Iyer. “Besides, there are very few software platforms that can integrate and accurately analyse the data ob- tained from a wide variety of neuroimaging modalities.” The need of the hour is convergence across the biomarker, neuroimaging and informatics segments. Innovations that enable seamless workflow integra- tion across diverse neurodiagnostic modalities will help overcome technological challenges and widen the reach of the diagnostics. The standardisation of global neuroinformatic clusters will further enable data sharing and analysis. Currently, several assay platforms are available for the detection of neurological biomarkers, especially for diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. New biomarker discoveries and advanced diagnostic platforms for Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and other dementias are expected in the near future. An important emerging trend is the use of optical scanning techniques for detecting retinal biomarkers for neurological diseases. “Overall, rapid advancements in hybrid neuroimaging platforms have improved the sensitivity and quan- The incidence of neurological disorders is escalating and the lack of early diagnostic techniques places the spotlight on inno- vations in this space. While software platforms are available for processing neuroimaging data, there are limited algorithms for diagnostic and clinical analyses. However, several cloud-based storage platforms exist for exchange and analyses of a vast amount of global neurological data. As companies look to devel- op quantitative software techniques for the detection and analy- ses of various neuropathologies, neuroinformatics is poised for a growth spurt in the near future.