Biogen, Beckman Coulter, and Fujirebio have announced a collaboration to identify and develop blood-based biomarkers for tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The goal is to create new tests that measure tau burden in the brain, offering crucial insights into AD’s underlying processes and potentially advancing the development of therapies targeting tau pathology.
The partnership aims to discover and enhance blood-based biomarkers for tau pathology. It seeks to develop tools for measuring brain tau, which could help in patient stratification and monitoring treatment responses in AD clinical trials. These biomarkers and diagnostic tools could eventually be used in clinical practice to support the adoption of new therapies targeting tau pathology.
Jane Grogan, Ph.D., Head of Research at Biogen, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in advancing tau-targeting therapies. “By combining our biomarker expertise with our partners’ diagnostic capabilities, we hope to accelerate the development of blood-based diagnostics for tau pathology,” she said.
Kathleen Orland, Senior Vice President at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, emphasized the potential impact of this collaboration. “By integrating cutting-edge biomarker development with innovative tau-focused treatments, we move closer to effective solutions for neurodegeneration. This partnership underscores our commitment to making high-quality neurological tests widely available,” she added.
Monte Wiltse, President & CEO of Fujirebio Diagnostics, noted that blood-based tau biomarkers could significantly advance the development of disease-modifying therapies for AD. “This partnership will help accelerate our efforts to develop and deliver new neurodegenerative diagnostics globally,” he said.
Under the collaboration, Biogen will provide clinical study data and expertise in biomarker research. Fujirebio and Beckman Coulter will handle diagnostic development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
the Companies
Biogen: Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative medicines and therapies. For more information, visit Biogen’s website.
Beckman Coulter, Inc.: A global leader in advanced diagnostics, Beckman Coulter has been improving patient health for over 80 years. Learn more at Beckman Coulter’s website.
Fujirebio: A leader in in vitro diagnostics, Fujirebio specializes in the development and commercialization of diagnostic markers. More information can be found at Fujirebio’s website.
