Wearable device for Parkinson’s disease raises $10m in funding

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Author: Sarah McGrathPublished: 25 November 2021

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UK-based tech company Charco Neurotech has secured $10 million in seed investment funding to support the launch of a non-invasive wearable device designed for people with Parkinson’s disease.

CUE¹ is a circular device worn on the sternum, which is designed to help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms through specialised vibrations that are personalised for each patient.

The investment round, which was co-led by venture capital company Amadeus Capital Partners and growth fund managers Parkwalk Advisors, is the largest European seed financing in 2021 for a heath technology device – and the sixth largest globally.

Lucy Jung, co-founder and CEO of Charco Neurotech, said: “This funding will enable us to proceed with our first, limited launch, while we work to ensure our manufacturing line is robust and produces consistent high quality devices.”

Charco also recently announced a new partnership with the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA), to help increase the availability of Charco’s solutions for people with Parkinson’s around the world.

Find out more about the wearable medical device for Parkinson’s disease.

For more information about Parkinson’s disease therapies, please visit the EPDA website.

New wearable medical device for Parkinson’s disease to launch this year

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A new study has suggested that experiencing recurrent nightmares and bad dreams could be an early symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the University of Birmingham, UK, used data from an existing US study that followed 3818 men, aged 67 or older, over a period of 12 years. Participants who reported experiencing bad dreams at least once a week were followed up. During the follow up, 91 people were diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The results suggested that participants who had frequent bad dreams were twice as likely to develop the condition as those who did not. Commenting on the study, lead author Dr Abidemi Otaiku said: “While we need to carry out further research, identifying the significance of bad dreams and nightmares could indicate that individuals who experience changes to their dreams in older age – without any obvious trigger – should seek medical advice.”

More than £2m awarded to research on mitochondria and Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at UK biotech startup NRG Therapeutics are developing potential treatments that may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s by protecting the mitochondria – a part of every human cell that works to power chemical reactions. The company has now received a £2.68m award from government-backed agency Innovate UK to continue its research. Their research built upon previous findings that damage to mitochondria in the substantia nigra – an area of the brain associated with dopamine – may be linked to Parkinson’s. The scientists developed molecules that keep a ‘pore’ in the mitochondria closed, which stops calcium flowing into it, preventing a process that eventually ruptures the powerhouse of the cell and leads to its death. The new funding award follows previous investment from Parkinson’s UK and the Michael J Fox Foundation.

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Wearable device for Parkinson’s disease raises $10m in funding

News

Author: Sarah McGrathPublished: 25 November 2021

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Five more apps for people with Parkinson’s

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Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease just got smarter

A “revolutionary” step in stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease?

Could frequent nightmares be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease?

More than £2m awarded to research on mitochondria and Parkinson’s disease

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Wearable device for Parkinson’s disease raises $10m in funding

News

Author: Sarah McGrathPublished: 25 November 2021

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Share this story

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Five more apps for people with Parkinson’s

Advances

Could a wearable device help ease Parkinson’s disease symptoms?

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Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease just got smarter

A “revolutionary” step in stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease?

Could frequent nightmares be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease?

More than £2m awarded to research on mitochondria and Parkinson’s disease

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