With an estimated 60 million Alzheimer’s patients worldwide and no effective treatment to halt or reverse the disease, Professor Yi-Ren Su—Chair Professor at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST0, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, and a former Taiwanese anti-SARS Hero—has led his team at Merry Life Biomedical to develop TML-6, an innovative new Alzheimer’s drug. Following successful completion of Phase I clinical trials in the United States, the team is applying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin global Phase II clinical trials, forging a new path in Alzheimer’s treatment. Merry Life Biomedical is a startup strongly supported by the National Science and Technology Council’s “Value Creation Project” and was successfully incubated by the Office of Academia Research & Industry Collaboration at STUST.

Medical Enlightenment and Paradigm Shift: Opening a New Chapter in TML-6 Development

The development of TML-6 was inspired by groundbreaking research on curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease by UCLA Professor Gary Small, a leading American authority on aging and Alzheimer’s. For Professor Yi-Ren Su, Professor Small’s work was a profound source of medical enlightenment, sparking new perspectives and breakthroughs in research. He noted that Professor Small’s approach embodied rational thinking and empiricism, using curcumin analogs to challenge the dominant Alzheimer’s research direction of the time. This represented a significant paradigm shift, and the theory—backed by solid scientific evidence—opened new horizons for Merry Life Biomedical’s drug development. Guided by this inspiration, Merry Life Biomedical now aims to position TML-6 as a global leader in Alzheimer’s treatment as it moves into Phase II clinical trials.

【Founder of Merry Life Biomedical and Chair Professor of STUST, Yi-Jen Su presented the Enlightenment Award to Professor Gary Small, a leading figure in aging and Alzheimer’s research at UCLA.】

Top Authority: Professor Gary Small Appointed Global Chief Clinical Advisor

In gratitude for Professor Gary Small’s six years of guidance and inspiration and his paradigm-shifting contributions to medical research through curcumin studies, Professor Yi-Jen Su recently presented the Enlightenment Award and announced that Professor Gary Small would serve as Chief Advisor for Merry Life Biomedical’s TML-6 global Phase II clinical trial. Dr. Small is renowned for his public advocacy of psychiatry and his innovative research on brain health, aging, and Alzheimer’s disease. He co-invented the first positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method capable of visualizing abnormal brain proteins—amyloid plaques and tau tangles—in the brains of living Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Small has published more than 500 scientific papers and 12 books, including the international bestseller The Memory Bible. His honors include serving as president of the American Society of Geriatric Psychiatry and being named one of the world’s 50 top innovators in science and technology by Scientific American magazine.

Innovation and Evidence: TML-6 from IND to Phase II Clinical Trial

TML-6 is a curcumin analog that operates via a novel autolysosomal mechanism of action. This research and development approach is distinct from the anti-amyloid antibody drugs that have been the focus of significant global investment over the past 30 years. The drug received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the U.S. FDA in June 2024 and successfully completed a Phase I clinical trial at Glendale Medical Center in Los Angeles in August of this year, demonstrating favorable safety and pharmacokinetic results. This innovative approach received international recognition at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) held in Toronto, Canada in July, bringing new hope to Alzheimer’s patients worldwide.

【Merry Life Biomedical’s TML-6 new drug is entering a global Phase II clinical trial and held the Enlightenment Award Ceremony. Professor Gary Small, former Director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Center; Professor Yi-Ren Su, Founder of Merry Life Biomedical; Chairman He-Hui Su-Chang of Merry Life Biomedical; Professor Te-Kuang Chou; and Merry Life Biomedical shareholders and board members gathered for a commemorative photo to mark this important milestone in Taiwan’s pharmaceutical research and development.]】

Global Multi-Center Collaboration: Precision Medicine Accelerates New Drug Development

The Phase II clinical trial of TML-6 is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will be conducted simultaneously at 19 medical institutions worldwide, including sites in the United States, Sweden, and Taiwan, with an expected enrollment of 210 subjects. A key feature of this trial is the use of blood biomarkers to both screen suitable patients and assess clinical efficacy, making it a global leader in the advancement of precision medicine. In addition to Professor Gary Small serving as Chief Advisor, Merry Life Biomedical has invited leading international experts to ensure the success of the Phase II clinical trial, including Professor Henrik Zetterberg, a blood biomarker expert at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden; Professor Barbara B. Bendlin, a PET imaging expert in the United State; Professor Jacobo E. Mintzer, a veteran Alzheimer's disease physician; and ten medical centers in Taiwan. The hope is to pool global resources to accelerate new drug development and bring to market the ideal new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease as soon as possible.

【At the Enlightenment Award Ceremony for Merry Life Biomedical's TML-6 new drug, distinguished guests gathered to celebrate this groundbreaking international collaboration. Former UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Center Director Professor Gary Small, Merry Life Biomedical founder and Chair Professor Yi-Ren Su, and Merry Life Biomedical Chairman He-Hui Su-Chang posed for a photo with Merry Life Biomedical Director Yi-Li Su and former Mainland Affairs Council Chair Hsing-Yuan Lai, among other distinguished guests, demonstrating their strong support for the development of new Alzheimer's disease drugs.】

Cultivating a Model Company and Bringing Honor to Taiwan's Medical Innovation

Dr. Nen-fu Huang, President of STUST, stated that Merry Life Biomedical, as a model company successfully incubated by STUST's Office of Research and Development, has been awarded funding from the National Science Council's Value Creation Program and has successfully advanced its TML-6 new drug into a global Phase II clinical trial with the US FDA, which will have a profound impact on Taiwan's medical innovation and aging health. STUST is incredibly proud to witness the achievements of STUST's research and development making their way onto the international stage. STUST also hopes that this research and development will bring new hope and options to Alzheimer's disease patients worldwide, bringing honor to Taiwan's biomedical technology.

【The Enlightenment Award Ceremony for the new drug TML-6 from Merry Life Biomedical was attended by distinguished guests to witness this internationally influential medical event.】