Biogen, Beckman Coulter, and Fujirebio Team Up to Develop Blood-Based Biomarkers and Tests for Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB), Beckman Coulter, Inc., and Fujirebio have formed a collaboration to advance the development of blood-based biomarkers for tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This partnership aims to create and improve tests that measure tau burden in the brain, providing valuable insights into AD's mechanisms and aiding the development of new therapies targeting tau pathology.
The collaboration will focus on both discovering novel blood-based biomarkers and refining existing ones for tau pathology in AD. The objective is to develop diagnostic tools capable of measuring brain tau pathology, which could enhance patient stratification and treatment monitoring in clinical trials. These tools may also be used in clinical practice, facilitating the adoption of future tau-targeting therapies.
Biogen, remarked, “Improving patient stratification and monitoring for tau pathology is crucial for advancing Alzheimer’s therapies, including our investigational tau-targeting treatments. By leveraging our biomarker expertise alongside our partners’ diagnostic innovations, we aim to expedite the development of blood-based diagnostics for tau pathology.”
Kathleen Orland, Senior Vice President at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, noted, “This collaboration merges cutting-edge biomarker development with promising tauopathy-focused treatments, advancing us toward effective solutions. Our goal is to make high-quality neurological tests widely available through our global network, improving access for patients with dementia.”
Fujirebio Diagnostics, added, “Blood-based biomarkers for tau pathology have the potential to significantly advance disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. This partnership will help us accelerate the development and global distribution of innovative diagnostics, addressing the pressing need for these biomarkers.”
Under the collaboration terms, Biogen will provide Alzheimer's clinical study data and expertise in biomarker research to help identify key tau pathology markers. Fujirebio and Beckman Coulter will handle the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the diagnostic tools.
Source: biogen.com
