BIOMARKERS
The future of biomarker research: accelerating innovations
With the discovery of new biomarkers increasingly fuelling new diagnostics and treatments – most notably in Alzheimer’s Disease – Michael Miller explains how both publicly and privately funded research have vital roles to play.
What have been the major
advancements in biomarker detection in recent years? Biomarkers are playing an increasingly important role in today’s clinical trials. Initially used to indicate the presence of a disease, biomarkers have evolved into
essential tools in pharmaceutical research, used to monitor disease progression and assess therapeutic efficacy. In this context, biomarkers are no longer just tools for diagnosis but are critical to determining the effectiveness of treatments and therapies.
Clinicians have traditionally relied on symptoms of cognitive decline to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Physicians often report low confidence when diagnosing based on symptoms alone. Additionally, the disease has already likely caused irreversible brain damage when symptoms allow clearer differentiation. Recently validated blood- based biomarkers enable clinicians to confidently determine a diagnosis without requiring multiple confirmation tests, saving precious time on the patient treatment journey. Data in a study from Nature Aging further support that in some contexts, detecting p-tau217, a biomarker that is a telltale sign of AD, can reduce reliance on costly PET scans and CSF testing, streamlining the diagnostic journey for AD and reducing burden on the health care system.1
These scans and tests are
often only available at specialised clinics, can take hours to complete, and receiving results can take more than a week. Removing this step from the diagnostic timeline narrows the gap between diagnosis and initiation of therapy, which is crucial since clinical trials have shown that earlier treatment provides greater benefits. The non-invasive nature of this blood-based biomarker reduces patient burden and expands its accessibility globally.
Michael Miller, Chief Operation Officer of Quanterix, said: “Privately funded research enables a more targeted approach centred on advancing innovations in diseases once considered incurable and untreatable.”
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM AUGUST 2025
What is the range of timescale for biomarker breakthroughs to reach clinical trial and or new diagnostic/treatment stage? The journey from biomarker discovery to clinical application – whether in diagnostics or therapeutics – typically spans five to 15 years, depending on several factors, including the biomarker’s biological complexity, regulatory requirements, and the intended use
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