Australian start-up Evinco launches with focus on Alzheimer’s

A new Australian biotech, Evinco Therapeutics, has launched in Melbourne to advance immune-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The private spin-out from Cartherics will focus on extracellular vesicles taken from natural killer cells and delivered intranasally, aiming for a simpler route into the brain. The company is raising funds to support early proof-of-concept work.

Chief executive and executive chair Alan Trounson said in the release that NK-cell vesicles show “extraordinary effects on microglia…in removing aggregated amyloid protein,” suggesting a potential new direction beyond antibody-based therapies. The launch comes as Alzheimer’s becomes Australia’s leading cause of death and global prevalence continues to rise.

Analysts estimate the global Alzheimer’s medicines market at around $2.4 billion in 2023, with forecasts nearing $17 billion by 2033 across major markets. Adoption of recent entrants such as Leqembi (lecanemab) and Kisunla (donanemab) has been shaped by high cost, safety concerns and access barriers, leaving demand for alternatives that are easier to administer.