- Title Information
- Title
- Navigating the Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Landscape: A Product Development Strategy for a Neurodegenerative Diagnostic Startup
- Type of Resource (primo)
- dissertations
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- Modarres, John Eran
- Role
- Role Term:
Text
- creator
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- Huang, Eric
- Role
- Role Term:
Text
- Reader
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- Analoui, Mostafa
- Role
- Role Term:
Text
- Reader
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- Ruocco, Maria
- Role
- Role Term:
Text
- Advisor
- Name:
Corporate
- Name Part
- Brown University. Biology and Medicine: Biotechnology
- Role
- Role Term:
Text
- sponsor
- Origin Information
- Copyright Date
- 2025
- Physical Description
- Extent
- ix, 76 p.
- digitalOrigin
- born digital
- Note:
thesis
- Thesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2025
- Genre (aat)
- theses
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates the optimal product development strategy for Adelle Diagnostics, a neurodiagnostic startup from Brown University developing the Shunt IQ test to predict the efficacy of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) shunt surgery. Amidst a competitive
neurodiagnostic landscape and challenging funding environment, the central research question
explores the characteristics required for a diagnostic tool to achieve financial success. The study
evaluates the hypothesis that focusing on the NPH shunt prediction application, enhancing
intellectual property (IP), and pursuing potential licensing offers is the most viable path for Adelle. A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative competitive analysis of 89 startups with qualitative analysis of high-performing outliers and 26 Key Opinion Leader (KOL)
interviews guided by I-Corps principles. Statistical analysis revealed patent quantity and employee count as strong predictors of startup valuation and capital raised, supporting the IP-centric hypothesis. Qualitative analysis highlighted higher valuations for companies with
diversified portfolios and the risks associated with single-asset pipelines. KOL interviews confirmed a significant unmet need to predict NPH shunt efficacy and a substantial, underdiagnosed NPH market. While enthusiasm exists for biomarker diagnostics, a
strong preference for less invasive methods over CSF was noted, though CSF analysis via
ShuntIQ may be justifiable pre-shunt. Key recommendations include rigorous clinical validation
and robust IP protection for ShuntIQ, prioritizing developing a blood-based assay if feasible,
maintaining strategic focus on the NPH indication given market conditions, and actively
exploring strategic partnerships. This strategy aims to optimize Adelle's clinical and financial
success potential by addressing a clear market need while navigating resource constraints.
- Subject
- Topic
- Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
- Subject
- Topic
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Subject (fast)
(authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/01010284")
- Topic
- Marketing research
- Language
- Language Term (ISO639-2B)
- English
- Record Information
- Record Content Source (marcorg)
- RPB
- Record Creation Date
(encoding="iso8601")
- 20250707