Valerie Daggett, co-founder and CEO of AltPep, recently won the Health Innovation of the Year award at the GeekWire Awards for her work on a new test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease. The diagnostic test was able to detect the neurodegenerative disease in 100% of samples from patients symptomatic for Alzheimer’s, even before symptoms were present. This test, known as the Soluble Oligomer Binding Assay (SOBA-AD), detects misformed, clumped proteins that disrupt normal brain function and lead to the progression of Alzheimer’s.
The research conducted by the University of Washington and AltPep was published in the journal Nature’s Scientific Reports. The test has shown promising results, with the FDA granting AltPep breakthrough device designation, prioritizing approval for the test. The goal is to use this test as a screening device for everyone over 40 years old, in hopes of early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s. AltPep is also working on developing treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, further solidifying their position as an innovative biotech startup.
AltPep has raised $76 million from investors and is continuing to push forward with their research and development. The company recently moved into a new lab space in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, allowing them to expand their programs and hire more employees. Despite previous limitations in space and resources, AltPep is accelerating their efforts to bring their diagnostic test and treatments to market, following the successful results of their recent study.
The SOBA-AD test is a non-invasive and effective method for detecting Alzheimer’s using blood plasma samples, without the need for cerebrospinal fluid collected through spinal taps. While the test did have five false positives among control samples, showing lower signals of the toxic protein, it still identified all cases of Alzheimer’s. Further testing is needed, particularly with more diverse patient samples, to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the test.
Valerie Daggett is eager to continue refining and testing the assay, recognizing the importance of constant validation and improvement in the field of Alzheimer’s diagnostics. The results of their recent study are encouraging and confirmatory, but more work is needed to ensure the test’s reliability across different patient populations. Co-authors on the paper, Amy Chen and Dylan Shea, have also contributed to the development and validation of the SOBA-AD test, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the research team at AltPep and the University of Washington.
