Alzheimer's Drugs Arrived Brain Scanners Didn't with Jannis Fischer

Alzheimer's treatments finally exist but patients are waiting months for the brain scans they need to access them. In this episode, Jannis Fischer, CEO and co-founder of Positrigo, explains how his team built an ultra-compact brain PET scanner that fits inside a neurologist's office and cuts diagnostic timelines from months to days. From losing an investor the day before signing to FDA clearance and triple-digit patient volumes within weeks of launch, this is a founder story with real clinical stakes.Key TopicsWhy new Alzheimer's drugs have created a brain PET bottleneckHow Positrigo's NeuroLF scanner delivers diagnostic-quality imaging in a seated, 10–20 minute scanThe "land and expand" go-to-market strategy across US neurology officesNavigating FDA clearance and CE mark on ~€15M in fundingTransitioning from R&D organisation to customer-centric commercial operationFundraising a $25–35M growth round to scale from proof of concept to exit-readinessRelated InsightsRoche, Eli Lilly and Biogen are running trials on preventive Alzheimer's intervention blood tests could pre-screen patients before symptoms appearThe reimbursement landscape for brain PET is already settled existing codes apply, making the economics a "no-brainer" for neurology practicesDecentralising imaging from hospital centres to specialist offices mirrors the broader US trend in point-of-care diagnosticsStrategic acquirers (Siemens, GE Healthcare) and radiopharmaceutical synergies make trade sale the most likely exit pathCore ChallengesWhole-body PET systems are overloaded with oncology and cardiology scans, leaving neurology patients waiting months for brain imaging a bottleneck that worsens as Alzheimer's drug adoption accelerates.Positrigo's NeuroLF system addresses this by enabling in-office brain PET scans at the point of care, but scaling requires the right sales team, operational partners, and growth capital to move from 3 installations to a nationwide footprint.🎧 Tune in now to hear how a particle physicist turned CEO is putting brain scanners where they belong next to the patients who need them most.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠