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FDA Clears Roche and Lilly’s Elecsys Blood Test to Help Rule Out Alzheimer’s in Symptomatic Adults 55+

The clearance positions a pTau181 blood assay for use in primary care to guide referrals for confirmatory evaluation.

FILE PHOTO: The Eli Lilly logo is shown on one of the company's offices in San Diego, California, U.S., September 17, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

Overview

  • Roche reports a 97.9% negative predictive value for Elecsys in a 312-participant study, indicating strong performance for ruling out Alzheimer’s pathology.
  • A positive result is intended to trigger follow-up testing with CSF analysis or PET imaging, and experts caution against relying on a single biomarker.
  • Roche says about 4,500 of its instruments are already installed in U.S. clinical laboratories, enabling rapid integration of the assay.
  • This is the second FDA-cleared plasma biomarker test for Alzheimer’s this year, following Fujirebio’s May clearance for a different pTau217/β-amyloid ratio approach.
  • Analysts and clinicians say easier blood testing could accelerate assessments and facilitate access to treatments such as Leqembi and Kisunla.