An innovative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease may be on the horizon.
Japanese medical startup Sound Wave Innovation announced that it has raised about $17 million to fund an ongoing late-stage clinical trial that uses ultrasound wave therapy to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the investors include Singapore-based venture capital firm iGlobe Partners along with existing backers such as Tokyo-based investment firm Fiducia and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, as well as domestic and international venture-capital firms, medical companies and individual investors, the startup said.
Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older. Globally, over 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, says the Alzheimer’s Association.
The low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy, called LIPUS-Brain, uses low-intensity pulsed ultrasound delivered through a device worn on the head. The therapy is designed to improve blood flow in the brain and reduce the buildup of amyloid plaques — protein deposits linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers believe the ultrasound waves stimulate brain tissue and the lining of blood vessels, which may enhance circulation, support healthier blood vessels, and potentially improve brain function.
The clinical trial began in October 2023 and is expected to conclude by the end of this year. If successful, the company hopes to seek regulatory approval as early as 2027.
Sound Wave Innovation is also considering a public offering in 2028, with another round of funding expected in late 2026, according to the Journal.
Lynn C. Allison ✉
Lynn C. Allison, a Newsmax health reporter, is an award-winning medical journalist and author of more than 30 self-help books.
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