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Umecrine Cognition aims to develop the lead project through early clinical validation. For this purpose the company is open for financial investors for co-development in a milestone-based exit strategy. Once proof of principle in man has been achieved, Umecrine Cognition will seek commercial partnering with a pharmaceutical company capable of providing appropriate commercial development and marketing strength.

HE is a severe disorder with a large unmet need. In total, liver cirrhosis affects up to 1% of the US and EU populations (1)(2). Between 125,000 and 200,000 patients with cirrhosis in the US are hospitalized due to complications of HE (3). Once HE develops, mortality reaches 22-35% after 5 years (4)(5). HE is also associated with large societal and individual costs. The total cost for hospitalizations with HE in the US was recently estimated to have increased from $1.6bn in 2005 to $2.0bn in 2009, at a total charge of $7.2bn in 2009 (6). The preliminary strategy is to focus on short-term treatment in hospitalized patients with severe HE. An effective novel treatment within this indication is likely to make a major contribution for the treatment of this disorder.