Bronwyn Bridges, CEO of PragmaClin Research Inc., began her academic journey in biology before transitioning to pharmacology. Driven by a deep interest in brain health, Bridges focused on Parkinson's Disease.
During her research, which evolved from a master's thesis into a PhD, she met Gord Genge, who had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's. Gord's experience—marked by a one-to-two-year wait for a neurology appointment and a diagnostic process involving subjective assessments—highlighted the urgent need for better tools. Inspired to address this gap, Bridges and Genge co-founded PragmaClin, with the goal of developing technology for objective neurological assessments.
One of PragmaClin's primary differentiators is its non-wearable technology. Unlike traditional sensor-based systems that require a physical attachment, PragmaClin uses cameras and AI to capture and analyze motor parameters. "Our system doesn't require anything to be worn, which significantly enhances usability, especially for patients struggling with fine motor skills," Bridges explained. "This ease of use fosters greater adoption among patients and clinicians alike and offers real-time scoring, eliminating the need to send data for re-evaluation."
PragmaClin's business model adapts to various settings. In rural clinics, where patients are far from urban centers and only have access to primary care, the technology can streamline assessments, removing the need for patients to drive hours to a city clinic. In urban centers where neurology clinics are concentrated, it assists patient throughput, allowing neurologists to see more patients in a shorter period of time. PragmaClin also envisions its product playing a crucial role in clinical trials, ensuring standardized, reliable scoring to support pharmaceutical and clinical research.
Q: PragmaClin's approach seems suited for long-term patient care. Do you offer follow-up services after diagnosis?
"Yes, follow-up is one of our core value propositions. Many Parkinson's patients are seen just once a year—or at best, every six months. PragmaClin's system helps bridge the gap between appointments by capturing and storing objective data. We're also developing a home-based component for caregivers and patients to monitor non-motor symptoms, like sleep and cognitive function, to provide ongoing insights between specialist visits."
Q: Has PragmaClin considered the Asian market?
"Yes, especially given the aging population and Taiwan's openness to innovation. Taiwan offers an accessible entry point into Asia, allowing us to establish trust and showcase our value proposition on a smaller, manageable scale before expanding further. Additionally, Taiwan's reputable manufacturing and quality standards align with our goals. We're interested in building partnerships with hospitals and research institutions across Taiwan to trial our technology and prove its value in diverse healthcare settings."
Bridges envisions PragmaClin making a significant impact over the next five years, initially targeting Parkinson's disease and then expanding to other movement disorders, like Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Currently in pre-seed fundraising, PragmaClin aims to secure funding to complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals, and prepare for market entry.
Q: How are you approaching regulatory approval for PragmaClin's product?
"FDA approval remains a priority, and we've completed initial steps to clarify requirements. We're conducting trials in Canada and Europe (initially Ireland), which will support our approval efforts in those regions. Meanwhile, we're exploring partnerships in Asia, where regulatory timelines can be shorter, compared to FDA approval which is viewed by many as a gold standard."
PragmaClin currently has eight full-time staff and a few contractors. With the planned pre-seed funding, Bridges expects to expand her team, especially in clinical research, software development, and business strategy.
Bronwyn Bridges will be in Taiwan on December 6th and 7th, attending the Healthcare Expo at the Nankang Exhibition Center in Taipei, where she looks forward to discussing potential collaborations.
