Lilly Partners with ADDF to Explore Speech-Based Alzheimer's Research Tools

Eli Lilly Partners with ADDF for Innovative Alzheimer's Research

In a significant collaboration, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation's (ADDF) Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) has entered into a partnership with Eli Lilly and Company. This partnership involves the licensing of the SpeechDx dataset, which is recognized as the world’s most extensive longitudinal dataset combining speech patterns and biomarker data in the context of Alzheimer's disease. This initiative is a step forward in utilizing speech as a critical tool for Alzheimer's research, potentially transforming diagnosis and monitoring processes.

ADDF Chief Executive Officer Isobel Coleman remarked on the importance of this collaboration, highlighting Lilly's prominent role in Alzheimer’s therapeutics and diagnostics. The licensing of the SpeechDx dataset represents a testament to the quality of resources provided by ADDF and their leadership in advancing the integration of speech-based metrics in Alzheimer’s research. Coleman pointed out that AI-driven tools may revolutionize Alzheimer's detection and monitoring, yet their efficacy hinges on high-quality data. The SpeechDx project aims to create one of the largest datasets globally, thereby providing researchers and industry partners with robust resources to develop and validate innovative digital markers.

The SpeechDx initiative has generated interest since its launch in 2023, aiming to fill a significant gap in the Alzheimer’s research sector—namely, the lack of datasets that monitor how individuals’ speech evolves in conjunction with clinically confirmed diagnoses and biomarker information. The project has followed over 2,000 participants across a three-year study, creating a gold-standard resource for training AI models and validating changes in cognitive health through speech. Given that speech can serve as an early indicator of cognitive decline, leveraging the readily available technology in smartphones and computers for monitoring brain health presents a scalable monitoring solution.

Mark Mintun, who is the group vice president of Neuroscience Research and Development at Eli Lilly, stated, “For over 35 years, Lilly has been at the forefront of Alzheimer's research and treatment advancements. This unique dataset integrates speech-based data with established biomarkers, increasing our capability to conduct more accurate and accessible diagnoses along the Alzheimer's continuum.” He emphasized the significance of early detection, noting that subtle signs of cognitive decline are often dismissed as normal aging, thus delaying crucial intervention opportunities.

Lilly’s collaboration with ADDF adds to the consortium of organizations employing the SpeechDx dataset, alongside Siemens Healthineers and Callyope. This reinforces the transformative potential of dynamic and digital measures in conjunction with traditional tests, providing additional insights into a patient’s cognitive state and future risk.

Niranjan Bose, the Managing Director of Health and Life Sciences at Gates Ventures, articulated that while speech presents vast potential as an indicator of cognitive changes, the mere promise it holds is inadequate for application. He stressed the necessity of well-curated, extensive datasets to convert signals from speech into trustworthy digital measures, underscoring the significance of SpeechDx. Contributions from esteemed researchers and companies, including the new partnership with Lilly, bring the research community closer to validating speech as a dependable tool in the realms of Alzheimer’s research and drug innovation.

About ADDF and the Diagnostics Accelerator

Founded in 1998 by Leonard and Ronald Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to accelerating drug discovery aimed at preventing, treating, and curing Alzheimer’s disease. As a public charity focusing solely on Alzheimer’s drug research, the ADDF employs a venture philanthropy model, having provided approximately $400 million to support nearly 800 drug development, biomarker research, and prevention projects across 21 countries.

The Diagnostics Accelerator, established in July 2018 with a commitment of $150 million, is a global initiative aimed at developing novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and related dementias, promoting more affordable and accessible diagnostic solutions. By fostering collaborative research efforts and providing support for the innovation of novel phosphorylated and digital biomarkers, the DxA aims to accelerate breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s treatment and diagnosis.