Unmet Need
More than 10 million people worldwide are currently living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement through degeneration of the dopamine-producing (DA) neurons in the brain. The cause of PD is currently unknown, and no specific tests exist to diagnose the disease. Neurologists diagnose PD based on medical history, signs and symptoms, as well as neurological and physical examinations. As a result, many patients go undiagnosed for up to two years, and the diagnosis is incorrect around 10% of the time, with the most common error being the inability to differentiate between PD and other forms of parkinsonism. On the other hand, although there is currently no cure for the disease, early intervention can reduce symptoms and potentially slow disease progression. However, there is currently no specific test to monitor PD progression. Thus, specific tests are urgently needed to properly diagnose PD and effectively monitor disease progression to help patients and physicians recognize and manage the disease earlier.
Technology Overview
The inventors have created a serum and blood plasma-based method to diagnose PD and monitor disease progression. In order to improve prognostication, the inventors used c-Abl pathway molecules as biomarkers. Current evidence indicates that tyrosine phosphorylated c-Abl is elevated in the brains of PD patients and is also activated as part of PD pathogenesis. Through investigation of the c-Abl pathway, the inventors have found that multiple substrates such as c-Abl, α-syn, and tyrosine phosphorylated α-syn serve as effective biomarkers for diagnosing PD and differentiating PD from other forms parkinsonism. These specific biomarkers have the potential to be used for clinical diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and potentially as theranostic markers.
Stage of Development
The inventors are currently converting their assays to Elisa kits.
