NeuroQuest Close to Validation Trial for Biomarker Platform in Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

TEL AVIV, Israel, December 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

NeuroQuest [http://www.neuro-quest.com ], a company of the Trendlines Group’s Misgav
Venture Accelerator is moving quickly towards an important validation trial for novel
blood-based immune biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s
biomarker platform for neurodegenerative diseases is based on the research of Prof. Michal
Schwartz, Chair of Neuroimmunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science who pioneered the
concept of Protective AutoImmunity. The trial is a follow-up to the preliminary human
trial performed at Sheba, Rambam, and Abarbanel Medical Centers in Israel and Methodist
Neurological Institute in Houston, Texas which demonstrated up to 85% diagnostic accuracy
and specificity in AD and ALS patients in mild to moderate stages versus healthy controls.
The success of the validation trial would present a new approach for a simple,
inexpensive, and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Successful results may lead to
new therapeutic targets for this disease, opening new directions to an industry searching
for novel approaches to combat AD, given the recent failures of several Phase III trials
for therapeutics targeting Beta-Amyloid reduction.

Dr. Jacobo Mintzer, Co-Director of Alzheimer’s Research & Clinical Programs of the
Medical University of South Carolina, has joined the company as its new VP of Clinical
affairs to leverage his experience in over 200 Alzheimer’s-related clinical trials.
NeuroQuest has also announced a new partnership with the Harvard Clinical Research
Institute and their Senior Director of Clinical Program Management, Dr. Jennifer Buell.
Together the teams are gearing up for a 150-200 patients clinical trial at MUSC, Harvard,
and other medical centers to validate the company’s novel immune-based biomarkers for
Alzheimer’s Disease.

The company has confirmed financing totaling $500,000 led by InterTech Group, headed
by Jonathan Zucker, and the Maryland/Israel Trendlines Fund. The company is also in
serious discussions with the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) about a grant to
support opening a US development center in Charleston, SC as the base of its clinical and
regulatory work. Many of these developments were put into motion following a 2011 American
Israel Chamber of Commerce – South East’s (AICC-SE) delegation from South Carolina headed
by Tom Glaser. Glaser’s group, returned to Israel and Misgav again this week to celebrate
and investigate additional opportunities for collaboration and investment.

        Contact:
        Efrat Kaduri
        Ofir Shpigel Media and Public Relations
        +972-4-9535030
        Efrat@ofirpr.co.il

SOURCE NeuroQuest