ALZHEIMER’S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION (ADDF) APPLAUDS DxA-FUNDED ALZPATH FOR NEW LICENSING DEAL WITH ROCHE THAT BRINGS ALZHEIMER’S BLOOD TESTS CLOSER TO PATIENTS

NEW YORK – June 20, 2023 – The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is pleased to announce Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) portfolio company ALZpath has recently announced a licensing agreement with Roche for use of the ALZpath pTau217 antibody to develop and commercialize an Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic blood test.

“Several years ago, the DxA set out to seed the Alzheimer's diagnostics market by investing in risky but crucial biomarker research, casting a wide net to catalyze exploratory research, and later helping to accelerate the validation of promising biomarkers, like pTau217,” said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). “PTau217 is now widely recognized as the leading blood-based diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, and we are encouraged to see ALZpath secure this licensing deal, which will ultimately bring us closer to more accessible, FDA-approved blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to a recent JAMA study, ALZpath’s pTau217 antibody is shown to be highly accurate and could potentially replace more invasive diagnostic tools, like PET scans and spinal taps. This antibody is part of the DxA’s robust biomarker portfolio that includes blood tests, retinal scans, and digital tools.

“The Diagnostics Accelerator is laser-focused on finding and advancing simple yet reliable tests that can diagnose Alzheimer’s early in its progression, and our ALZpath partnership is a prime example of that,” said Niranjan Bose, PhD, Managing Director of Health & Life Sciences at Gates Ventures. “Thanks to innovative researchers like the ALZpath team, several promising blood tests in the pipeline may provide vital new paths to timely prediction and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Founded in 2018 by Leonard A. Lauder and Bill Gates, along with other leading philanthropists, the DxA is a $100 million global initiative aimed at fast-tracking the development of accessible and affordable diagnostic tools for early Alzheimer’s disease detection. To date, the DxA has invested nearly $70 million in over 60 projects, advancing accessible, scalable, non-invasive biomarkers.

  Biomarkers are crucial for Alzheimer's disease detection and diagnosis and they also play an important role in accelerating drug development and clinical trials. This is especially timely as disease-modifying therapies come to market and offer new treatment opportunities for patients. Biomarkers will enable precision medicine by identifying effective treatments based on individual risk profiles, which has the potential to transform how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, treated, and managed. 

“Nearly five years ago, we were only able to diagnose patients through costly, invasive tests, but we are moving toward a time where physicians can order blood tests to offer patients a definitive and accurate diagnosis,” said Dr. Fillit. “Building out the DxA’s portfolio of blood biomarkers, like ALZpath’s antibody, has been essential in developing biomarkers that enable early detection and support the next generation of care. Roche’s agreement with ALZpath is validation of the DxA’s innovative approach, showcasing that the DxA has been looking in the right places and making the right investments to deliver the next generation of Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics.”