Amydis is the leader in developing a new class of diagnostic compounds that enable digital detection and monitoring of human disease-related molecular biomarkers through standard ocular imaging cameras. This pioneering technology can accelerate diagnosis, improve the clinical testing of novel therapeutics and revolutionize treatment.
Retina as a Window to the Brain
The retina is part of the central nervous system (CNS) that can be conveniently imaged using high-resolution standard ocular imaging cameras. It provides an opportunity to detect signs of neurodegenerative diseases during a routine eye exam. The retina contains many of the neural, synaptic, and glial elements that are impacted in the brain by diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases. Most importantly, molecular biomarkers of these diseases, which present as deposits of abnormally folded proteins are found in the retina.. Amydis’ innovative technology provides the ability to perform a virtual biopsy via a simple eye exam and detect diseases at much earlier stages than is currently possible.
Virtual Biopsy of Retina: a Digital Molecular Biomarker Approach
Amydis small molecules bind selectively to disease-specific molecular biomarkers and then emit a strong fluorescent signal detected using existing ocular imaging cameras and procedures. We have confirmed that these diagnostic compounds detect biomarkers known to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases.
Our pioneering technology for imaging disease-related molecular biomarkers in the retina will provide a superior input for analytical approaches that are being developed to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases. Amydis takes advantage of a rapidly growing digital analytics sector where various technologies are being used to capture images of retinal structure and vasculature. Current technology has major limitations including low levels of signal detection failing to render unambiguous result in differentiating disease from normal variation. The Amydis technology, on the other hand, generates high signal molecular biomarkers that enable a reliable, automated and highly quantitative digital platform.
Amydis shifts the diagnostic paradigm
At present, people at risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases do not seek medical attention until they are overtly symptomatic, a point at which irreversible damage has already occurred and a window of opportunity for therapeutics has greatly narrowed. An example of the impact of screening and early diagnosis is mammogram screening to detect the earliest stages of breast cancer. In neurodegenerative diseases, there are measurable indices of early disease manifested as deposits of abnormally folded proteins in CNS, but as of yet there have been no simple, convenient, and widely adoptable technologies to measure them. Our technology, by detecting biomarkers of neurodegeneration in retina, will shift diagnosis to an earlier and more broadly accessible point of care: the eye care specialists. Most people already have a relationship with an eyecare specialist due to common, age-related changes in their vision. This will provide an opportunity for detection of neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms arise and empowers both patients and physicians with the ability to seek early therapeutic interventions.