St Petersburg, Florida Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Woolsey Pharmaceuticals Inc. has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for its breakthrough in treating agitation and anxiety in dementia patients. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11865119, titled ‘Methods of treating agitation and other dementia-associated behavioral symptoms’, utilizes the rho kinase inhibitor fasudil to significantly reduce behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Agitation affects up to 90% of individuals with dementia, often leading to distress and increased caregiver burden. Current treatments, such as antipsychotics, carry serious risks, including increased mortality. Woolsey’s approach offers a safer alternative. Clinical observations indicate that fasudil delivers improvements in agitation that surpass those of existing therapies by orders of magnitude.
Fasudil, traditionally used for vascular conditions, is repurposed here to target neurological pathways involved in dementia-related behaviors. By inhibiting rho kinase, the drug may modulate brain signaling linked to agitation and anxiety. This novel application could transform care for millions living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
Woolsey Pharmaceuticals is advancing fasudil under the brand name BRAVYL®. The company is also exploring its potential in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), supported by additional patents. With this innovation, Woolsey aims to redefine neurodegenerative disease treatment and improve patient quality of life.