Neurotune launches world's-first sarcopenia diagnostic assay
Test will identify biomarker caused by excessive neurotrypsin activity
Biopharmaceutical company, Neurotune, has launched NTCAF ELISA, the world’s-first ELISA-based diagnostic assay for sarcopenia.
A debilitating muscle disorder frequently affecting the elderly, and for which there is currently no cure, sarcopenia is defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that occurs with advancing age. The current diagnosis of the disease is by dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, which measures lean body mass (LBM) in combination with functional tests. However, this cumbersome technique provides no information on the underlying cause of the loss of LBM.
It is currently estimated that sarcopenia affects more than 50 million people worldwide and, with the elderly population expected to increase to more than 200 million in the next 40 years, it is recognised as an important unmet medical need.
To address this need, Neurotune has developed a biomarker to identify the subgroup of patients - 40% - whose sarcopenia is caused by excessive neurotrypsin activity. The NTCAF ELISA test has initially been developed for research purposes to aid the development of a treatment for the condition and could have potential as a companion diagnostic.
Dr Armin W. Mäder, chief executive of Neurotune, said: “Launching the world’s-first serum biomarker for sarcopenia is an important milestone for the company and validates our expertise in this field. There is a high and increasing demand by the research community for an easy-to-use diagnostic to help identify the underlying cause of the condition. We believe the NTCAF ELISA test is also a significant step towards finding an effective treatment for a significant proportion of those with this debilitating disease.”
The assay was developed in collaboration with MicroCoat Biotechnologie and the Eureka-Eurostars programme.
