Botanicure Presents Early Dementia Clinical Findings of Botanical Drug Development at BIO International Convention

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, dementia has become an increasingly important public health concern. Speaking on behalf of the research team at the BIO International Convention in the United States, Dr. Chaur-Jong Hu, Dean of College of Medine, Taipei Medical University, noted that current dementia treatment strategies are moving toward “the earlier, the better.” He highlighted the growing attention surrounding Botanicure’s clinical findings on a botanical drug candidate targeting individuals at the earliest stages of cognitive decline.

Botanicure, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel therapeutics for neurological and aging-related diseases, participated in the BIO International Convention. A key highlight of the company’s participation was the presentation of its latest clinical data entitled “The Effect of Soy Extracts on Brain Health and Quality of Life in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations: A Pilot Study”

The pilot study was led by Dr. Hu and conducted across four major medical centers in Taiwan, including Taipei Medical University Hospital, Wan Fang Hospital, Shuang Ho Hospital, and Tri-Service General Hospital. The study enrolled 300 participants diagnosed by physicians as having subjectively cognitive impairment and employed a single-arm, open-label clinical design.In an interview during the conference, Dr. Hu stated that government-led epidemiological surveys estimate Taiwan’s dementia population at approximately 350,000 individuals. Among them, nearly half are classified as having mild or very mild cognitive impairment, representing an estimated 160,000 to 170,000 people living in the community.

Dr. Hu emphasized that current therapeutic approaches and drug development efforts are increasingly focused on earlier intervention. The Botanicure study targeted individuals with early warning signs or subjective cognitive complaints who had not yet progressed to clinically diagnosed dementia.

Dr. Hu further explained that the study integrated clinical symptom assessment with blood-based biomarker analysis to evaluate participants with early cognitive concerns or subjective symptoms. In addition to observing changes in cognitive function, sleep quality, perceived pressure and functions of life following treatment, the research team also analyzed relevant biomarkers to better understand the product’s potential effects on brain health and neuroinflammatory responses.

According to the study findings, the product, BOTA-NS1, demonstrated positive effects on both global function, perceived pressure and sleep disturbances. Dr. Hu noted that biomarker analyses showed reductions in neuroinflammatory indicators, leading the research team to believe that the product may possess anti-neuroinflammatory properties.

Dr. Hu revealed that BOTA-NS1 is a botanical drug candidate currently under development by Botanicure. As of February this year, 53 participants had completed the study and their datasets had been collected from the 300 enrolled participants. Based on interim analysis results, BOTA-NS1 showed significant improvements in glogal function and sleep disturbances following administration of the botanical gel product.

Regarding the rapid growth of Taiwan’s dementia population, Dr. Hu explained that multiple factors are contributing to the trend. Chief among them is the country’s rapidly aging population. Taiwan has already become a super-aged society, with individuals aged 65 and older accounting for more than 20% of the total population. As the elderly population expands, the prevalence of dementia and related disorders is expected to continue increasing. Rising risks associated with vascular diseases also play an important role.

Distinguishing normal aging from dementia is often challenging. Dr. Hu noted that physicians typically have limited consultation time, making information provided by family members particularly valuable. If cognitive decline is rapid, pronounced, or begins to interfere with daily functioning, medical evaluation should be sought promptly. Clinical practice today places strong emphasis on identifying mild and even very mild cases at the earliest possible stage.

He also pointed out that hospitals frequently manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, including delusions, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances. Many dementia patients experience disruptions in their sleep-wake cycle and present more severe symptoms in the night which is commonly referred to as “sundowning”. They usually are characterized by daytime drowsiness and increased alertness at night. In addition to pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological interventions remain an important component of patient care.

Reflecting on his observations at the BIO International Convention, Dr. Hu noted that venture capital and industry discussions on the future of Alzheimer’s disease are no longer focused solely on amyloid clearance. Increasing attention is being paid to brain metabolism impairment, neuroinflammation, combination therapies, and biomarker-driven approaches. These trends closely align with Botanicure’s research and development strategy and provide valuable insights for future innovation.Through its participation at BIO, Botanicure aims not only to showcase the clinical progress of its botanical drug development program but also to foster deeper scientific exchange and technological collaboration with the global biopharmaceutical community.