New York, October 28 (Reuters/ PR Newswire ) – The Diagnostics Accelerator ( DxA ) of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation ( ADDF ) announced a new collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, whereby Eli Lilly has obtained permission to use the SpeechDx dataset from this foundation. This dataset is the largest and most uniformly organized longitudinal collection of voice and biomarker data in the world, covering the entire spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease, from individuals with no cognitive impairment to patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. Eli Lilly will use this data to study the feasibility of using voice as a research tool for Alzheimer’s disease.
ADDF CEO Isobel Coleman ( Isobel Coleman ) stated: "Lilly is a world leader in the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Their authorization of SpeechDx data is an important recognition of the quality of this resource as well as ADDF's leadership in advancing voice-based measurements. AI driving tools have the potential to change the way we detect and monitor Alzheimer's disease, but their effectiveness depends on the data behind them. Through SpeechDx, ADDF is building one of the largest and most comprehensive datasets in this field, which is a unique resource designed to provide researchers and industry partners with the data needed to develop and validate the next generation of digital biomarkers."
SpeechDx is ADDF's largest investment to date in the field of AI. It was launched in 2023 through its DxA project, aiming to address a key gap in this area: the lack of a dataset that can track how a person's voice changes over time and combine this with biomarker diagnostic results and clinical outcomes. The study followed over 2,000 participants for three years, resulting in a gold-standard resource that can be used for training and validating AI models. Voice is one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline, and since it can be collected at low cost using built-in microphones on smartphones and computers, it provides a highly scalable method for monitoring brain health.
Mark Minton, Vice President of Eli Lilly's Neuroscience Research and Development Group, stated: "For 35 years, Eli Lilly has been committed to advancing our understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This unique dataset combines voice-based data with established biomarkers to support our efforts in making diagnoses more accurate, more accessible, and less invasive across the entire spectrum of the disease. Early detection is crucial, as mild symptoms are often mistaken for normal aging, thereby delaying opportunities for intervention."
Eli Lilly is the third organization to obtain permission to use the SpeechDx dataset, following Siemens Healthineers and Callyope. This highlights the potential value of dynamic digital measurements; such measurements can be combined with blood tests to provide more information about patients' cognitive status and future risks.
Niranjan Bose, Executive Director of Health and Life Sciences at Gates Ventures, stated: "Voice has great potential as a signal of cognitive changes, but potential alone is not enough. To convert this signal into reliable digital measurements, the industry needs large-scale datasets with well-defined characteristics. That's where the value of SpeechDx lies. We have already gathered a group of high-level researchers in collaboration with partners such as Siemens Healthineers and Callyope. With Eli Lilly's participation, we are one step closer to achieving our goal of making voice a credible and validated tool in the research and drug development of Alzheimer's disease."
About the Alzheimer's Disease Drug Discovery Foundation ( ADDF )
ADDF was founded in 1998 by Leonard A. Lode ( Leonard A . Lauder ) and Ronald S. Lode ( Ronald S . Lauder ) with the mission of accelerating the development of drugs for the prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer's disease. ADDF is the only public charity dedicated to funding the development of Alzheimer's disease medications, supporting research in academia and the biotechnology industry through a model of venture philanthropy. The leadership and contributions of ADDF have played a key role in bringing to market the first Alzheimer's disease PET scans ( Amyvid ®) and blood tests ( PrecivityAD ®), as well as in advancing the current strong and diversified pipeline of medications. With the generous support of donors, ADDF has allocated nearly $400 million to fund 792 Alzheimer's disease medication development, biomarker, and prevention projects in 21 countries. For more information, please visit: http :// www.alzdiscovery.org /
About the Diagnostic Accelerator ( DxA )
The Diagnostics Accelerator was launched in July 2018 as a global research initiative with a budget of $150 million. It was jointly initiated by Leonard A. Lod, co-founder and honorary chairman of ADDF, and Bill Gates, with the aim of developing new biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. DxA is committed to accelerating the development of affordable and readily accessible biomarkers to aid in diagnosis and promote the clinical development of more targeted treatments. Through translational research funding and advisory support from industry experts, the project provides challenges, assistance, and funding to researchers from both academia and industry, driving the development of new peripheral and digital biomarkers.
