According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on the 16th, QuantaMatrix Incorporated first launched the AlzPlus testing service in June at the Lee Won Medical Foundation, one of South Korea’s top five contract testing laboratories. The company explained that as interest in the early diagnosis and preventive management of Alzheimer’s disease grows, the number of tests has been steadily increasing since the service’s launch.
Following the Ewon Medical Foundation, the AlzPlus testing service will also begin on the 19th at the Seoul DMC Health Screening Center, affiliated with the Korea Industrial Health Research Foundation, and at the contract testing laboratory BML. By expanding service locations to include health screening centers in addition to major contract testing laboratories, the company is actively broadening its service reach to make the service easily accessible to the general public.
Ahead of the test’s launch on the 19th, a representative of QuantaMatrix Incorporated explained, “We are already receiving inquiries and requests for the test.”
Assessing Brain Health Through Four Blood Markers and an AlgorithmAlzPlus is a diagnostic kit that measures the levels of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and three related biomarkers
inthe blood, then predicts the risk of Alzheimer’s disease through analysis using a proprietary algorithm. Beta-amyloid is a key factor involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
AlzPlus, which is based on multiple markers, not only addresses the limitations of the early dementia diagnosis market—where most tests rely on a single marker—but also features enhanced analytical reliability through the integration of proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. As a blood test, it is also noted for resolving the issues of high cost and high risk (due to its invasive nature) associated with existing brain imaging diagnostics (PET-CT) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests.
The AlzPlus test is available to patients visiting hospitals or health screening centers who wish to assess their cognitive function or brain health. Results are provided in a personalized report and can serve as a reference for consulting with a specialist regarding follow-up tests and preventive and management strategies.
A QuantaMatrix Incorporated representative stated, “A ‘Caution’ result does not necessarily indicate the immediate onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” adding, “We recommend periodic follow-up tests and preventive care, and detailed interpretation of the results and consultations are conducted through specialist care.”
Targeting
the Dementia Diagnosis Market Following dRAST… Attention on Establishing a New Growth EngineQuantaMatrix Incorporated’s move to expand “AlzPlus”
followingthe launch
of dRASTis interpreted as a strategy to position the early-stage dementia diagnosis market as a new growth opportunity. Amid growing interest in proactively monitoring cognitive function and brain health due to an aging population, the company aims to secure a revenue base complementary to its existing core business by expanding the reach of its blood test services.
Pathological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease can occur even before cognitive decline becomes apparent. Therefore, identifying disease risk early—before symptoms appear—and taking preventive measures are crucial for delaying the onset of the disease and improving patient prognosis.
In particular, the value of early diagnosis has become even more prominent with the recent market launch of treatments such as Lecembi, which slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The company believes that by using AlzPlus to identify risk levels before the onset of the disease and screen high-risk groups, treatments can be administered rapidly in the early stages of the disease to maximize their effectiveness. The company explains that if the brain health management benefits of the AlzPlus test are organically combined with timely treatment, the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients will improve significantly, and there will be substantial reductions in social costs.
Meanwhile, as the company expands its service network to include contract testing laboratories and health screening centers, the key question moving forward is whether the increase in test volume will translate into actual revenue growth.
QuantaMatrix Incorporated official stated, “The fact that the AlzPlus test service is expanding not only to major contract testing laboratories but also to health screening centers demonstrates AlzPlus’s clinical utility and market potential,” adding, “We expect the AlzPlus test to establish itself as a ‘brain health solution’ that identifies the risk of disease onset early and ultimately prevents Alzheimer’s disease.”
