Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), 4DX Medical (ASX:4DX), Cochlear Ltd (ASX:COH), CSL Limited (ASX:CSL)... the number of ASX healthcare shares that provided monster returns is obvious. So what could be next? Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia consistently rank in the top five killer diseases in developed countries. In Australia, it is now our number one leading cause of death, overtaking heart disease. It accounts for nearly 10% of all registered deaths. The slow decline of a loved one takes a heavy emotional toll on family. There’s safety concerns, personal care stress, communication barriers leading to care givers often suffering themselves from depression. But there is a glimmer of hope. With such a large number of people suffering from a central nervous system disease there is a big opportunity for the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Through 2024 and 2025 a number of drugs were approved by the FDA and right in the middle of all these clinical trials was a small Australian listed company providing the tests. This company is Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS) and it plays a pivotal role in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Today, with Nick Sladen from LSN Emerging Companies we break down Cogstate and discover an Australian listed company operating at a global scale, helping to solve a global problem. Topics covered in this conversation include: - How many people suffer from Alzheimer’s and why is it growing? - What does Cogstate do and what is the origin story? - What tests do Cogstate do during these clinical trials? - What does the breakthrough and creation of the drugs meant for testing and trials - do they speed up? Do more come to market? Or do other companies stop trying? - Cogstate primarily makes its money from its involvement in clinical trials - how long do these run for, and how can someone see the pipeline of trials? - Who are Cogstate’s competitors and what kind of moat does Cogstate have? - Cogstate’s data flywheel - Would a pharmaceutical company buy Cogstate? Is there any value in them doing that? - How vulnerable is Cogstate to the spend of these pharmaceutical companies on their development of Alzheimer’s drugs? - If the investment case does not work out - what would have gone wrong? - What metrics do you look for every time you open the annual report? - What is Cogstate’s pipeline for other central nervous system treatments outside of Alzheimer’s? Episode resources - Speak with the Rask Advice team: https://rask.au/advice - Ask a question (select the Investors podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest Show partner resources - ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds https://www.globalxetfs.com.au - Visit TermPlus to learn more https://termplus.com.au/?utm_source=rask&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=investors&utm_term=general&utm_content=youtube_description - Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) https://termplus.com.au/money-mindset-index/survey/?utm_source=rask&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=money_mindset_index&utm_term=score&utm_content=ad_read_description Rask Resources - All services: https://bit.ly/R-services - Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan - Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest - Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes - Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest - We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP Follow us on social media: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg