Likvor announces instrument to treat normal pressure hydrocephalus
27 September 2008
Swedish startup company Likvor AB has announced a new instrument that
can measure the pressure, flow and conductance of cerebro spinal
fluid (CSF). It facilitates more accurate diagnosis of idiopathic normal
pressure hydrocephalus. The tool was introduced at the international
Hydrocephalus 2008 congress in Hanover, September 17-20.
Likvor says its tool is the is first commercially available
instrument that can safely and successfully measure the pressure, flow
and conductance of CSF. The technology behind Likvor’s tool is based on
more than 30 years of clinical research at Norrland’s University
Hospital and Umeå University, Sweden. Likvor’s instrument is currently
being tested in an independent multicentre trial at six university
hospitals in the Nordic region.
The technology can help patients suffering from dementia, balance and
gait disturbances to go back to normal life. The instrument can also be
used to control whether or not a shunt implant is functioning properly.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological condition
caused by disturbances in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found in the
cavity of the brain and spinal cord canal. The main clinical features of
NPH are balance and gait disturbances, dementia and urinary
incontinence.
The most common form of NPH is idiopathic normal pressure
hydrocephalus (INPH), which is primarily found in elderly patients and
is often incorrectly diagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
INPH is a potentially reversible disorder, which means that patients who
receive the correct diagnosis and treatment can return to normal life.
The condition can be treated by surgically implanting a shunt into the
brain to regulate CSF pressure and flow.
Market
The calculation of INPH patient volume is based on the prevalence of
dementia. It is estimated that around 9% of the population over 65 years
of age suffer from dementia and of these up to 10% in actual fact
suffering from INPH.
In Europe, North America and Japan this is equivalent to around 1.4
million people. Likvor’s tool enables patients to be correctly diagnosed
and thereby receive the right treatment, resulting in great benefits
primarily for the patient but also for society.
Likvor says that its tool will be CE marked in autumn 2008 and will
be available on the market from the beginning of 2009. Likvor AB was
established in early 2007 at which time the company acquired all the
rights to the instrument as well as related patents from the researchers
behind the technology.
Likvor’s principal owners are Swedish investment company Uminova
Invest and LinkMed the Swedish life sciences investment company, both
with 49% of share capital.