Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Inc. or simply Labcorp LH has made a significant stride in the field of diagnostics. Their latest offering, a pioneering blood test designed to detect phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) — a recognized biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, is now officially launched. This breakthrough test is poised to revolutionize the landscape of Alzheimer’s detection, offering an advanced tool for physicians and aligning with the research needs of global biopharmaceutical partners.
The Impact of Detecting Alzheimer’s Biomarker
Amid growing concerns about Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia worldwide, Labcorp’s pTau217 test assumes a critical role. With around 6.7 million Americans affected by Alzheimer’s, a number projected to surpass 13.8 million by 2060, the significance of such biomarkers cannot be overstated. The pTau217 marker has already demonstrated its importance in Alzheimer’s medication studies, enabling the tracking of individuals undergoing anti-amyloid therapy.
This innovative pTau217 test enhances Labcorp’s existing repertoire of Alzheimer’s tests, complementing the neurofilament light chain (NfL) and beta-amyloid 42/40 ratio tests, as well as the ATN Profile, a robust combination of three essential blood indicators.
Driving Healthcare Innovation
Beyond conventional diagnostics, Labcorp transcends its role as a mere testing entity in the healthcare ecosystem. With a workforce exceeding 67,000 globally and a presence in over 100 countries, Labcorp has been pivotal in aiding the FDA’s approval processes for groundbreaking medications. Notably, the company carried out a staggering 600 million patient tests worldwide in the previous year alone.
The introduction of pTau217 represents a crucial juncture in Labcorp’s commitment to enhancing testing capabilities across the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease. By providing physicians and pharmaceutical firms with additional resources for clinical trials, disease detection, monitoring, and patient care, Labcorp cements its position as an industry leader.
Industry Growth Trajectory
According to Mordor Intelligence, the neurodegenerative disease market is slated to expand significantly, with an estimated value of $55.12 billion by 2024. Subsequent projections indicate a growth to $77.82 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.14%. Factors fueling this growth include the mounting prevalence of neurological disorders, heightened global awareness, and a robust pipeline of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Advancements by Peers in Neurodegenerative Testing
In the competitive landscape of neurodegenerative disease diagnostics, companies like QIAGEN N.V., Biogen Inc., and Quest Diagnostics, Inc. are also making significant headway. QIAGEN, for instance, introduced QIAGEN Biomedical KB-AI, a sophisticated knowledge base powered by AI to drive drug discovery in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
Biogen revealed plans to refocus resources on Alzheimer’s disease, particularly emphasizing the advancement of LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb), the first anti-amyloid beta treatment. Additionally, the company intends to accelerate the development of potential new modalities for treating Alzheimer’s, including ASO targeting tau (BIIB080) and an oral small molecule inhibitor of tau aggregation (BIIB113).
Quest Diagnostics has also taken proactive steps by collaborating with Diadem SpA to improve access to high-quality blood tests aimed at evaluating Alzheimer’s disease risk. This strategic collaboration highlights the collective effort within the industry to combat the challenges posed by neurodegenerative diseases.
