Sanomune, a Canadian biotechnology company, recently licensed the method and will reportedly begin clinical trials in the next year.
The treatment, which was developed by Dr.
William H. Frey, is an intranasal method that allows medication to bypass the protective blood-brain barrier and enter the brain directly.
Prior to this treatment, research has shown it has been difficult to get certain drugs pass this barrier in an attempt to treat the brain of an individual with the debilitating disease.
"With our non-invasive delivery method, the drug bypasses the blood-brain barrier and is rapidly delivered to the brain while significantly reducing unwanted side effects. Because it is able to reach key areas involved in both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, we are very optimistic about its potential as a treatment for these disorders," Frey said.
An estimated 5.2 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2030, it's estimated the number of individuals aged 65 and older with the disease will reach 7.7 million.
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