Australia’s biotechnology sector has welcomed a new entrant with the launch of Evinco Therapeutics, a Melbourne-based company developing advanced immune therapies aimed at transforming the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neuroinflammatory conditions.
The new venture, officially unveiled today, is led by scientist Professor Alan Trounson AO, who will serve as Evinco’s CEO and Executive Chair. The company is a spin-out from Cartherics, allowing its parent organisation to concentrate on its oncology and endometriosis programs while Evinco channels its efforts into neurological disease.
Evinco is now raising capital to support proof-of-concept studies for its central technology. The technology is based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from natural killer (NK) cells, engineered as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Delivered intranasally, these NK-EVs are designed to bypass traditional barriers to the brain, offering a simple, potentially more effective way to reach the affected regions.
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia and is now the number one cause of death in Australia. With the global population ageing, demand for breakthrough treatments is surging, and the Alzheimer’s therapeutics market is projected to reach US$17 billion by 2033 across major international markets.
Professor Trounson said the science behind Evinco’s platform marks one of the most promising developments he has seen in decades of working at the forefront of regenerative medicine.
“Serendipity has opened the incredible potential benefit of autologous NK cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “We have shown that minuscule EVs extracted from NK cells have extraordinary effects on microglia – the immune cells of the brain – in removing aggregated amyloid protein. I am excited that this and other neuroprotective properties of NK-EVs may herald a new frontier in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other neuroinflammatory diseases.”
The company is backed by a network of scientific experts, clinical collaborators and industry advisors, positioning Evinco to rapidly advance its preclinical program and move towards human studies. Its mission, Trounson said, is to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge immune science into tangible therapies for the millions of people worldwide affected by neurodegenerative disease.