Rockville, MD – August 30, 2016 – Meso Scale Discovery, a division of Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), today launched a new immunoassay validated for the detection of alpha-synuclein in human serum, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, saliva, and whole blood. Development of this assay was supported by funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).
In Parkinson’s disease (PD), alpha-synuclein aggregates to form toxic soluble oligomers (i.e., protofibrils) and insoluble fibrils known as Lewy bodies (LBs). Alpha-synuclein pathologies are also prevalent in people with dementia with LBs and multiple system atrophy.
“This assay will be of great interest to the PD research community,” said Jacob Wohlstadter, president and chief executive officer of MSD. “A biomarker that can be detected during the pre-symptomatic or early active stages, and distinguish PD from other neurodegenerative conditions, could significantly impact the selection of patients for clinical trials and ultimately inform treatment options.”
Samantha Hutten, PhD, senior associate director of research programs at MJFF, noted, “This tool will assist in the field’s investigation of alpha-synuclein, which is not only a primary biomarker candidate but also a leading target for therapies to slow or stop disease progression.”
Parkinson’s is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, primarily because many of its symptoms overlap with other neurological conditions. Neuroimaging and neurophysiological testing support diagnosis, but the high costs associated with these tests and their lack of specificity limit their utility. Currently, there is no biomarker-based diagnostic test for PD.
The U-PLEX Human α-Synuclein Kit is for Research Use Only and is available for immediate purchase and delivery.
About Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC.
Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC., based in Rockville, Maryland, develops, manufactures, and markets instruments and assays for array-based biological measurements for research use in life sciences and for biodefense applications. MSD is the world’s leading provider of highly sensitive multiplex immunoassays. More information about MSD and its products can be found at www.mesoscale.com.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation
As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $600 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders, increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder, promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach, and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us on the Web, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Contact
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