Amorfix, Ontario Genomics partner to develop blood test for Alzheimer's

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., Jan. 31 - Amorfix Life Sciences Inc. and the Ontario Genomics Institute announced they are entering into a partnership to develop a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, EP-AD, based upon Amorfix's patent-pending Epitope Protection technology.

Terms of the agreement include stock and milestone payments, subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture exchange, according to a company news release.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with an accumulation of protein aggregates, or amyloid, in the brain. These amyloid aggregates are suspected to result from aggregation of misfolded A-beta protein fragments present in blood.

"Until now, it has been very difficult to detect aggregated misfolded proteins in blood where normal protein is prevalent. With our progress on the Epitope Protection platform, we are now in a position to finish our development of a test for Alzheimer's A-beta aggregates in blood," Neil Cashman, Amorfix chief scientific officer, said in the release.

There is no definitive way to confirm an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis before death, officials said.

Toronto-based Amorfix is an emerging theranostics company focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, where aggregated misfolded proteins are prevalent.

The Ontario Genomics Institute, located in Toronto, is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on building a globally competitive life sciences industry in Ontario.

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