Pfizer and Akili to assess diagnostic potential of mobile game

Pfizer has allied with Akili Interactive Labs to assess the potential diagnostic ability of Akili's mobile videogame platform Project EVO.

The companies wish to test whether the game can be used to detect cognitive differences in healthy elderly people at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. It is the first time a large pharmaceutical firm has attempted to use a game for this purpose.

Around 100 patients will be enrolled in a clinical trial and have their aptitude at playing the game assessed over one month, allowing the software to be evaluated as a biomarker or clinical endpoint for potential use in future Alzheimer's trials.

Project EVO is designed to quantify and improve the ability of individuals to deal with cognitive interference, which impacts their ability to pay attention, plan and make decisions.

Michael Ehlers, senior vice-president and chief scientific officer of the neuroscience research unit at Pfizer, said: "This partnership is another example of Pfizer's commitment to embracing innovative technologies that have the potential to further research into neuroscience diseases."

This comes after the company signed a master collaboration agreement with Siemens in the field of companion diagnostics last month.