DNA Assays Monitor MS Activity and Treatment Response

Serum DNA blood tests predict clinical status and monitor disease activity and response to treatment in multiple sclerosis.

The technology identifies disease-specific genetic fingerprints based on the circulating DNA that is released into the bloodstream by damaged and dying cells. The circulating DNA can be identified and analyzed to provide a diagnostic window into ongoing changes in the genome associated with the disease.

Scientists applied advanced analytical techniques developed by Chronix Biomedical (San Jose, CA, USA) to identify genomic DNA fingerprints in the bloodstream of 28 MS patients known to have relapsing or stable disease as compared to 50 healthy volunteers. MS patients were distinguished from the healthy volunteers; the circulating DNA fingerprints were able to differentiate periods of active disease attacks from the stable periods of disease remission. The study appeared in the March 12, 2010 online edition of the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

"These positive data further support the Chronix approach to detecting and monitoring diseases, including neurologic diseases such as MS," said Howard Urnovitz, Ph.D., CEO of Chronix. "We are now preparing to offer laboratory testing services to support clinical trials for new neurologic drugs, initially focusing on MS and expanding to diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease and autism. Eventually we intend to offer testing services that will allow physicians to monitor ongoing disease status and response to treatment in their patients with MS and other chronic neurological conditions."

The newly published MS data follows earlier work that demonstrated the ability of Chronix's serum DNA-based assays to diagnose mad cow disease and chronic wasting disease in live animals, conditions that until now could only be diagnosed using post-mortem biopsies.

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