On September 23, 2025, the Alzheimer’s disease landscape experienced a seismic shift, marked by two pivotal announcements: the launch of Ortega NeuroRx, a new biotech spin-out focused on disease-modifying therapies, and the publication of The Lancet Series on Alzheimer’s disease by a panel of 40 leading international experts. Together, these developments highlight unprecedented scientific progress and the urgent need for systemic reform to ensure patients benefit from these breakthroughs.
Ortega NeuroRx emerged as a spin-out from T-NeuroDx in a strategic reorganization designed to sharpen the focus of both entities. Ortega NeuroRx, led by President and CEO Wayne Laslie, is setting its sights on developing groundbreaking treatments that target the root causes of Alzheimer’s disease. “With Ortega NeuroRx, we have the opportunity to advance groundbreaking treatments tailored to address the root causes of Alzheimer’s,” Laslie said, emphasizing how the separation enables the company to concentrate its resources on therapeutic innovation and clinical development. “This separation enables us to focus our resources on therapeutic innovation and clinical development, bringing us closer to viable treatment options for patients.”
The scientific foundation of Ortega NeuroRx is rooted in the research of co-founder and Chief Science Officer Dr. Christopher Wheeler, who first identified an abnormal population of T cells—hiT cells—as the initiating factor of Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery places Ortega NeuroRx at the forefront of a new therapeutic paradigm, aiming to intervene earlier in the disease process than conventional amyloid or tau-targeted therapies. “Ortega is named after my mom, Beverly Wheeler – born Beverly Jean Ortega – who succumbed to the disease 20 years ago this month,” Dr. Wheeler shared, adding a personal dimension to the company’s mission. “At both companies we are driven to transform that loss into hope for millions living with Alzheimer’s today and it is especially motivating to announce this during World Alzheimer’s Month and on this World Alzheimer’s Day.”
While Ortega NeuroRx channels its energy into therapeutic innovation, T-NeuroDx remains committed to diagnostics, commercializing a breakthrough biomarker technology that identifies hiT cells. This technology represents a paradigm shift in early detection and patient management, offering a vital tool to de-risk and accelerate therapeutic development. Dr. Michael Reed, who serves as President & CEO of T-NeuroDx and COO of Ortega NeuroRx, explained, “This strategic shift will allow each entity to better align its operations, resources, and growth strategies to achieve success in their respective fields.”
The timing of these announcements is no coincidence. September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and the need for transformative change has never been more apparent. According to The Lancet Series on Alzheimer’s disease, also released on September 23, a new era in diagnosis and treatment is dawning. The Series, authored by 40 leading experts—including Professor Clive Ballard from the University of Exeter and Professor Nick Fox from University College London (UCL)—spotlights the recent approval of monoclonal antibody medications, lecanemab and donanemab, as well as advances in blood-based diagnostic tests.
“We really are entering a new era in Alzheimer’s disease treatment, which comes with huge opportunities, huge challenges, and plenty of hope,” said Professor Fox, director of the UCL Dementia Research Centre. He noted the significance of finally having disease-modifying therapies, such as the new monoclonal antibodies, and the opportunity they present to improve diagnosis, care, and support pathways. However, he cautioned, “These medications are not a panacea, and will need to be offered as part of a holistic approach to care, alongside support for behavioural and psychological symptoms. Additionally, these drugs are only useful when given early on in the disease course, so healthcare systems will need to reduce delays to enable people to benefit, and prioritise early and accurate diagnosis.”
The Series draws a novel comparison between the effectiveness of these new treatments and medicines for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, highlighting that the antibodies can slow Alzheimer’s progression to a comparable degree. Yet, the authors urge caution due to differences in patient age, outcomes, and side effects. As Professor Ballard of the University of Exeter Medical School put it, “It’s fantastic to see the major developments in diagnosis and treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease over the last five years. However, we need widespread change to enable our clinical care systems to keep up with this progress, to deliver the best possible benefits to people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.”
Despite the optimism, significant barriers remain. The Series warns that high medication costs, complex testing requirements, suboptimal care for behavioural symptoms, and chronic under-resourcing risk leaving many patients behind. The authors argue that the full potential of scientific advances will only be realized if rapid reforms are enacted across healthcare systems, public policy, and societal attitudes.
“Blood tests, biological drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, and prevention interventions are propelling care into entirely new and exciting territory. However, the old needs of patients will not disappear,” said Professor Giovanni Frisoni, lead author of The Lancet Series and a professor at the University of Geneva. “On the contrary, more general practitioners and dementia specialists will need to master the less glamorous but steady advances made in the past few decades in the care and treatment of behavioural disorders, the use of sophisticated diagnostic imaging and laboratory tools, and psychosocial care. A concerted societal effort in this direction will enable our current and future patients to benefit fully from the potential of scientific and technological advances.”
Prevention is also gaining ground as a key focus. Emerging Brain Health Services are identifying high-risk individuals and providing them with personalized prevention programs. Yet, the majority of Alzheimer’s cases arise in people with low or normal risk, underlining the need for population-wide measures—such as healthier urban design and restrictions on alcohol and sugary drinks—to reduce risk across society.
Ultimately, the experts call for coordinated global action to match the rapid pace of scientific progress with reforms in healthcare delivery, policy, and public understanding. The stakes are high: Alzheimer’s disease accounts for about 70% of all dementia cases and is a leading cause of disability, imposing immense societal and economic costs.
As Ortega NeuroRx and T-NeuroDx pursue their complementary missions—one in therapeutics, the other in diagnostics—the larger Alzheimer’s community is being challenged to keep pace with innovation. The hope, echoed by scientists and clinicians alike, is that these advances will not only delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s but also transform the lives of millions of patients and families worldwide. The coming years will reveal whether healthcare systems and societies can rise to the challenge, ensuring that the promise of this new era is realized for all who need it.
