Octave Bioscience’s MSDA Test Demonstrates Clinically Actionable Insights for Improved MS Care Decisions
In a significant advancement for the field of neurodegenerative disease management, Octave Bioscience, Inc., a precision care company focused on transforming how multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions are managed, has announced the publication of a pivotal real-world clinical utility study. Published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical, the study is titled “Real-world clinical utility of a multi-protein, blood-based biomarker assay for disease activity assessments in multiple sclerosis.”
The findings underscore the transformative potential of Octave’s MS Disease Activity (MSDA) Test, a clinically validated, multi-protein biomarker assay, in guiding treatment decisions and improving care for people living with MS. By evaluating how this innovative diagnostic tool performs across varied clinical settings and influences real-world decision-making, the study offers compelling evidence for its integration into routine MS management.
Bridging the Gap Between Data and Decisions
Multiple sclerosis is a highly complex, heterogeneous disease that affects over 2.8 million people worldwide. Characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration, MS often presents unpredictable patterns of disease activity, making timely and accurate treatment adjustments challenging. Conventional methods of monitoring—MRI scans, clinical examinations, and subjective symptom tracking—often fall short in capturing the full picture of disease progression or response to therapy.
Recognizing this gap, Octave’s MSDA Test introduces a precision medicine approach. Unlike traditional diagnostics, the MSDA Test quantitatively analyzes 18 proteins in the blood, offering a multi-dimensional view of disease activity. This allows neurologists to detect subtle changes that may not be visible through MRI or evident from patient-reported symptoms. The result is a more objective, reliable, and timely tool for informing treatment choices.
Study Design: Real-World Relevance at Its Core
The published study evaluated the clinical utility of the MSDA Test by examining 352 longitudinal patient charts across 14 different sites in the U.S., including academic medical centers, regional hospitals, and community-based neurology clinics. Twenty clinicians participated in the study, contributing to a robust dataset of 723 MSDA Test results. This wide-reaching scope ensured the inclusion of varied patient demographics, disease severities, and treatment approaches—offering a realistic picture of how the test performs in everyday clinical practice.
The core objective was to understand how the MSDA Test influenced clinicians’ decisions regarding the initiation, continuation, modification, or discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Importantly, the study also tracked whether the test reinforced decisions already being considered by clinicians, thereby adding confidence to their care plans.
Key Findings: Shaping a New Clinical Paradigm
1. Influence on Clinical Decision-Making
One of the most compelling outcomes of the study was the extent to which the MSDA Test directly influenced treatment decisions. According to the data, 59.8% of single test results played a decisive role in guiding management. This impact became Octave even more pronounced with repeat testing, as 69.2% of multiple, longitudinal MSDA Test results influenced changes or confirmations in treatment strategy. These findings suggest that the value of the test compounds over time, as both clinicians and patients grow more confident in its use and interpretation.
2. Actionable Insights and Treatment Adjustments
The study found that nearly 1 in 5 test results (19.4%) led directly to a change in treatment plan. In some cases, this meant escalating therapy due to signs of increased disease activity; in others, it involved de-escalating or discontinuing therapy where low activity was confirmed. Even when treatment was not changed, clinicians often cited the test results as reinforcing their clinical judgment, providing a much-needed objective layer to support complex decisions.
3. Generalizability Across Practice Settings
Crucially, the study included a wide range of care environments, from elite academic institutions to community neurology offices. This diverse participation supports the broad generalizability of the MSDA Test, indicating its usefulness across various care models, patient populations, and resource levels.
4. Identifiable Clinical Patterns
Three core clinical decision-making patterns emerged from the data:
- Continuation of current therapy: Low MSDA Test scores often validated a decision to maintain existing treatment.
- Therapy discontinuation: In some cases, a persistently low score led clinicians to discontinue a patient’s DMT, especially when side effects or other factors made continuation risky.
- Therapy initiation or switch: High test scores were frequently associated with a decision to begin or switch DMTs, even in the absence of overt clinical symptoms or MRI findings.
These patterns highlight the test’s role as both a confirmatory and predictive tool, helping clinicians adjust care strategies proactively rather than reactively.
Expert Perspectives: Validating Clinical Confidence
Dr. Taylor Gonyou, lead investigator and neurologist at the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND), emphasized the real-world impact of the test on patient care. “One of the biggest challenges in MS management is determining when to adjust treatment,” he noted. “This study demonstrates that integrating multi-analyte biomarker data from the Octave MSDA Test into clinical workflows enhances decision-making—particularly with repeated use—as confidence in the test grows over time.”
Dr. Jennifer Graves, Senior Medical Advisor at Octave and a professor of neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego, elaborated on the clinical gap the test addresses. “Clinicians need more than traditional imaging and symptom tracking to assess disease activity effectively,” she said. “Protein biomarkers have the Octave potential to fill this gap. In applying these tools, establishing a baseline is critical for interpreting disease activity trends. The MSDA Test allows for such baselines, enabling a clearer picture of progression or stability over time.”
Leadership Vision: Empowering the Future of MS Care
From an organizational standpoint, the findings are a strong validation of Octave Bioscience’s mission to redefine how MS is monitored and managed. Doug Biehn, CEO of Octave, sees the MSDA Test as a cornerstone in the evolution of precision neurology.
“Our goal is to empower both providers and patients with precision tools that transform MS care,” Biehn stated. “We are encouraged to see how clinicians’ management plans change after reviewing MSDA Test results—whether that means Octave altering an existing therapy, initiating a new one, or reinforcing a decision to stay the course. The study clearly demonstrates that the MSDA Test is a precision tool that provides physicians with clinically actionable data, enabling more targeted treatment decisions and helping support disease stability in real time.”
