OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE Amex:OPK) today announced the development of a simple diagnostic blood test for Alzheimer’s disease. The test, designed to detect elevated levels of antibodies unique to Alzheimer’s disease, was approximately 95% accurate in initial testing.
“OPKO has begun to develop a range of new diagnostic tests for other neurological diseases, as well as cancers, starting with those for which early diagnosis is particularly important.”
The novel Alzheimer’s disease-specific antibodies were discovered using a proprietary platform being developed by OPKO that appears to be capable of identifying such biomarkers for any disease to which the immune system reacts, including cancer, autoimmune disease, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. OPKO will perform additional studies required for regulatory approval and commercial use. The test could be useful in identifying patients for clinical trials for new Alzheimer’s drugs as well as to confirm the diagnosis in a clinical setting.
Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO, stated, “OPKO has begun to develop a range of new diagnostic tests for other neurological diseases, as well as cancers, starting with those for which early diagnosis is particularly important.”
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