Sunbird Bio, a biotechnology company focused on neurological disorders and early-stage cancer diagnostics, has unveiled promising data regarding its blood-based alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) test. This test accurately detects aggregated α-synuclein in the brain through a simple blood draw, potentially offering a groundbreaking diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. These findings were presented at the 2024 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference.
The aggregation of α-synuclein proteins in the brain is a key indicator of several neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Currently, diagnosing Parkinson’s disease relies on evaluating symptoms, medical history, and physical examinations, lacking a specific blood-based test. Sunbird Bio’s research uses extracellular vesicle (EV)-bound α-synuclein in blood as a direct measure of α-synuclein aggregation in the brain.
The study involved blood samples from 16 individuals with Parkinson’s disease and 24 healthy, age-matched individuals—Sunbird’s proprietary assays distinguished between EV-bound and unbound soluble forms of α-synuclein in plasma. The results indicated that unbound, soluble α-synuclein was ineffective in identifying Parkinson’s disease. However, the signature based on brain-derived, EV-bound α-synuclein demonstrated high accuracy, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86. This suggests a strong potential for accurate disease detection.
This technology holds promise beyond Parkinson’s disease, potentially impacting other neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which also exhibit α-synuclein aggregation. Aggregated α-synuclein disrupts cellular function, impacting synaptic transmission, triggering neuroinflammation, and potentially leading to neuronal death. These aggregates bind to EVs in the brain, crossing the blood-brain barrier and entering the bloodstream. Sunbird Bio’s technology uniquely addresses the challenge of accurately detecting these aggregated proteins in the blood.
This technology could revolutionize the diagnosis of Parkinson’s and other synuclein-related neurological disorders. Further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and additional biomarkers are planned to validate these initial findings and explore the technology’s broader applications. Sunbird Bio’s diagnostic platform directly detects and measures low concentrations of EV-bound, aggregated proteins, potentially impacting disease detection, drug development, disease monitoring, and personalized treatment selection for various neurological disorders. The company is developing a range of blood-based tests targeting biomarkers like amyloid beta, tau, α-synuclein, and TDP-43 for neurological diseases.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
