Danaher’s Beckman Coulter Diagnostics and Japan-based Fujirebio have expanded their partnership to develop assays for neurodegenerative diseases.
Both firms will focus on the development, manufacturing, and clinical adoption of patient-friendly, blood-based diagnostics.
Last year in July, both companies entered into a collaboration to develop blood-based tests for Alzheimer’s disease. It was focused on new biomarkers aligned with recently cleared monoclonal antibody-based therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.
The latest announcement expands this research programme and further refines target analytes, such as the Beta Amyloid 1-42 plasma assay being developed by Fujirebio and the pTau217 plasma assay being developed by Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.
According to Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, these new diagnostics are being advanced for use with the recently released Beckman Coulter DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer. The device is said to be capable of developing sensitive and clinically relevant tests.
The new Lumi-Phos PRO Substrate from the DxI 9000 Analyzer has demonstrated the capacity to create tests that are both more sensitive and clinically meaningful.
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics president Kevin O’Reilly said: “We are very excited by our expanded partnership with Fujirebio designed to overcome challenges of developing highly sensitive assays, measuring ultra-low concentrations of neurodegenerative disease biomarkers circulating in the blood stream.”
The alliance uses the Japanese biotechnology firm’s menu of neurological biomarkers as well as its experience in developing, producing, and registering neurological reagent kits for regulatory purposes.
Fujirebio is said to have a full complement of research-use-only (RUO) blood-based neurodegenerative biomarkers, such as β-amyloid1-42, β-amyloid1-40, phospho-Tau181, neurofilament light (NfL), ApoE4, Pan-ApoE, and phospho-Tau217.
Fujirebio Diagnostics president and CEO Monte Wiltse said: “Our expanded partnership with Beckman Coulter will enable increased laboratory, clinician and patient access to more neurodegenerative biomarkers around the world.
“We look forward to continued collaboration with Beckman Coulter bringing these critical assays to physicians and patients worldwide.”
