Octave Bioscience Partners with Quest Diagnostics to Expand Nationwide Access to MSDA Test
Octave Bioscience, a commercial-stage precision care company at the forefront of redefining disease management in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, today announced a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading global provider of diagnostic information services. This partnership aims to make the Octave® Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test broadly accessible through Quest’s extensive nationwide specimen-collection network.
Through this collaboration, healthcare providers who order the MSDA Test from Octave will now be able to refer patients directly to one of Quest’s more than 7,000 patient service centers or utilize in-office phlebotomy services available across the United States. Additionally, Quest will have the first right of consideration to provide specimen collection services for future novel tests that Octave is developing for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. This partnership represents a significant step in expanding patient access to precision diagnostic testing and enhancing the delivery of personalized care.
Enhancing Clinical Decision-Making Through Advanced Diagnostics
“At Quest, we are committed to delivering diagnostics that empower people and their providers to make better-informed clinical decisions and advance the standard of care in neurodegenerative diseases like MS,” said Dr. Michael Racke, MD, a board-certified neurologist and Senior Medical Director of Neurology at Quest Diagnostics. “The Octave MSDA Test is an important clinical innovation because it harnesses comparatively simple blood testing to illuminate relapse risk and treatment response in patients with MS, helping to reduce reliance on specialized imaging technologies alone. By making it available through our nationwide network of patient service centers, Quest is making it easier for patients and their physicians across the country to access these critical insights.”
MS, a chronic and often unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, affects more than one million people in the United States alone. It is characterized by inflammation and neurodegeneration that disrupt communication between the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body. MS symptoms vary widely, ranging from fatigue, weakness, and numbness to cognitive impairment and visual disturbances. Traditionally, disease management has relied heavily on clinical assessments, patient-reported symptoms, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
However, these approaches present limitations. For example, MRI findings do not always correlate directly with patient-reported symptoms or disease progression, which can delay critical treatment decisions. These gaps highlight the urgent need for reliable biomarkers that reflect the underlying biology of MS and provide clinicians with actionable information.
Introducing the Octave MSDA Test
The Octave MSDA Test represents a pioneering advance in precision neurology. It is the first and only clinically and analytically validated multi-analyte blood test that reports a disease activity score specifically for MS. The test measures 18 validated protein biomarkers in a simple blood sample, providing an objective, data-driven snapshot of disease activity. This enables clinicians to make more informed, proactive treatment decisions, such as determining whether to initiate, discontinue, or switch therapies based on real-time disease dynamics.
In a study published in Clinical Immunology, the MSDA Test demonstrated superior performance compared to a single biomarker test, such as neurofilament light chain (NfL), which has been used to monitor disease activity. By capturing a broader range of biological signals, the MSDA Test offers earlier detection of changes in disease status and provides deeper insights into patient-specific disease activity. This allows healthcare providers to intervene sooner and tailor treatment strategies more effectively.
“The collaboration with Quest Diagnostics represents an exciting milestone for Octave Bioscience and a transformative opportunity for patients living with multiple sclerosis,” said Doug Biehn, CEO of Octave Bioscience. “With Quest’s nationwide reach, the MSDA Test will become more accessible to patients and physicians across the U.S., enabling a scalable and efficient pathway to incorporate precision diagnostics into routine MS care. Moreover, this partnership lays the foundation for the expansion of Octave’s precision care portfolio to include additional tests targeting Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, reinforcing our leadership in precision neurology.”
Nationwide Access Through Quest’s Network
Quest Diagnostics, a leader in diagnostic testing and healthcare information services, operates one of the most extensive patient service networks in the United States. With over 7,000 patient service centers and widespread availability of in-office phlebotomy, Quest provides convenient access for patients regardless of geographic location. By integrating the MSDA Test into this network, Octave and Quest are bridging a critical gap in accessibility, ensuring that patients across the country can benefit from advanced biomarker testing without the need for specialized or centralized medical centers.
The collaboration also includes future opportunities for Quest to provide specimen collection services for upcoming tests under development by Octave. These tests aim to further improve precision care in MS, Parkinson’s disease, and potentially other neurological disorders, creating a pathway for broader clinical adoption and patient access.
Precision Neurology in Action
The MSDA Test embodies the principles of precision neurology, leveraging advanced biomarker analysis to deliver actionable insights that guide individualized patient care. By evaluating a panel of 18 protein biomarkers, the test provides a quantitative disease activity score that reflects ongoing biological processes, including inflammation and neurodegeneration. This approach moves beyond traditional assessments, which may rely solely on symptom reporting or imaging results, offering a more complete and objective understanding of disease progression.
One of the unique aspects of the MSDA Test is its ability to detect subtle changes in disease activity that may precede clinical relapse or MRI-detectable lesions. This early-warning capability allows clinicians to adjust treatment regimens proactively, potentially reducing the risk of irreversible neurological damage and improving long-term patient outcomes. In clinical practice, this can translate into more precise treatment initiation, timely therapy adjustments, and reduced reliance on reactive decision-making.
Accessibility and Support for Patients
Octave has taken steps to ensure the MSDA Test is accessible to a broad patient population. The test is reimbursed by multiple health insurance payers, minimizing financial barriers for patients and healthcare providers. Additionally, Octave offers a patient affordability program to support those who may face out-of-pocket costs, reinforcing its commitment to equitable access to precision diagnostics.
All testing is performed in Octave’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Menlo Park, California, which is CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, and New York State CLEP-approved. These certifications ensure the highest standards of laboratory quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance, giving clinicians and patients confidence in the test results.
Addressing an Unmet Need in MS Care
Multiple sclerosis presents a unique challenge to clinicians due to its heterogeneous nature. Symptoms can fluctuate, progression rates vary widely among patients, and traditional imaging techniques may not always capture disease activity accurately. Consequently, there is a critical need for objective biomarkers that reflect the underlying biological activity of the disease. The MSDA Test fulfills this need by offering clinicians actionable data to complement existing assessment tools, enabling more informed decisions and personalized care strategies.
By providing a blood-based alternative to costly or invasive diagnostic procedures, the MSDA Test also enhances patient convenience and engagement. Patients no longer need to rely solely on imaging or sporadic clinical evaluations to understand their disease status. Instead, they can receive timely, objective insights that inform both short-term and long-term care planning.
Expansion of Precision Neurology Portfolio
The collaboration between Octave and Quest Diagnostics marks the beginning of a broader vision for precision neurology. Octave is actively developing additional tests for MS, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders, with the goal of creating a comprehensive suite of precision diagnostics that support early intervention, personalized treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. By leveraging Quest’s nationwide infrastructure, Octave is positioned to bring these innovations to a larger patient population more efficiently, driving adoption of next-generation diagnostic tools across the healthcare ecosystem.
“Our mission at Octave is to transform the management of neurological diseases by providing clinicians and patients with actionable, data-driven insights,” added Biehn. “This partnership with Quest Diagnostics not only expands access to the MSDA Test but also establishes a scalable pathway for delivering future innovations in precision neurology, ultimately advancing the standard of care for millions of patients living with complex neurological conditions.”
The strategic collaboration between Octave Bioscience and Quest Diagnostics represents a major milestone in the evolution of multiple sclerosis care. By combining Octave’s cutting-edge biomarker technology with Quest’s nationwide specimen-collection network, the partnership makes precision diagnostics more accessible, practical, and impactful for patients and clinicians alike.
Through the MSDA Test, healthcare providers now have a reliable, objective tool to assess disease activity, monitor treatment response, and make informed therapeutic decisions. For patients, this translates into greater confidence, convenience, and engagement in their care journey. Looking ahead, the partnership is poised to expand the reach of Octave’s precision care portfolio, providing new diagnostic solutions for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, and setting a new standard for personalized neurological care in the United States.
About Octave Bioscience, Inc.
Octave Bioscience, Inc. is a leading precision care company pioneering multi-analyte biomarker-driven solutions for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with multiple sclerosis. Octave’s comprehensive solution provides objective, actionable insights to improve disease monitoring, treatment decisions, and patient outcomes. The company’s flagship product, the Octave Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test, is the first clinically and analytically validated blood-based biomarker test that enables physicians to quantitatively measure MS disease activity, allowing for more informed treatment decisions and personalized disease management over time. For more information, visit www.octavebio.com.
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