Markets & Industry
Blood test for early detection of Alzheimer’s launched to public
A simple blood test that can detect and screen with 96% accuracy whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease up to a decade before symptoms appear, has been made available to the general public for the first time.
The blood test developed by an international research team led by scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), could be a potential game changer in the battle to catch and treat the neurodegenerative disease in its early stages.
The PlasmarkAD Blood Test Service is currently only available to patients in Hong Kong at a cost of HK$7,000 (£693 or $894 US).
But Dr Joyce Ouyang, managing director of Hong Kong-based Cognitact, which has licensed the medical breakthrough, has told Agetech World that its rollout in the Chinese city-state potentially paves the way for a cheap and easy diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, that could eventually help millions of people across the globe begin early treatment for the devastating disease.
She said: “It was easier for us to launch in Hong Kong because we are based here, and because of the regulatory framework, but we do plan to extend this to other parts of the world. We need to see how it goes in Hong Kong first, but we do have plans for further commercialisation.
“We think we will seek the possibility of whether it could expand into the UK or Europe through our connections there.”
It is hoped that ultimately the blood test could open the door to novel therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s and perhaps be adapted to help detect other neurodegenerative diseases, as Dr Ouyang explained. “The next step is to see if the test can be used for other types of dementia, like frontal FTD (frontotemporal dementia). That would be the first priority.
Dr Joyce Ouyang, managing director of Hong Kong-based Cognitact
“Currently we are using a quite expensive method, that is why our current test is not cheap. But, of course, it is cheaper than other conventional, traditional methods. We do need to do some more research and development, however, to develop some other cheaper methods for the blood test diagnosis.
“Why it is expensive is because we are using a quite costly platform. We are measuring something from the blood to reflect what is happening in the brain, so sometimes these protein levels in the blood are quite low, so that is why we need to use an expensive method to achieve the ultra sensitive detection of those protein levels.
“The plan is to develop a cheaper method to achieve the sensitive detection of those biomarkers. We hope that this can be faster, and in this we are collaborating with other companies to focus on the biotech for the protein part to see whether we can figure out another method to achieve the ultra-sensitive detection and also more cheaply.
“We hope that this will facilitate the test to go further and quicker and cheaper.”
The PlasmarkAD test has taken around five years to develop in collaboration with scientists from University College London (UCL) and clinicians in Hong Kong hospitals, including the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth, with the researchers using Chinese patient data to progress it.
The blood test is aimed at those who are concerned about developing Alzheimer’s. Individuals book an appointment online and do the test at designated centres.
It uses a single drop of blood to determine if a person has Alzheimer’s disease, which affects around 55 million people globally.
In Europe alone, the number of people with dementia – of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type – is expected to almost double by 2050, increasing to more than 14 million in the EU and nearly 19 million in the wider region.
Early detection of the progressive disease which damages the brain and often begins with mild memory loss, is key to slowing its effects.
There is currently no cure with an average life span for patients of 10 years post-diagnosis.
Given the devastating effects of the disease and how common it is becoming, the need for more diagnostic tools that can pick up on its presence early and hopefully help slow cognitive decline, has become a scientific cause célèbre.
Currently, Alzheimer’s is typically diagnosed via neuroimaging and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid collected via a lumbar puncture.
But a lumbar puncture can be invasive and painful and brain scans expensive with potentially long waits to both get an appointment and the results.
A blood test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease with 96% accuracy has become available to the public in Hong Kong.
The HKUST blood test leverages world-leading proteomic technology (the systematic analysis of proteins) and self-developed machine learning algorithms. Using this method, PlasmarkAD can detect the level changes of blood biomarkers simply through regular blood draws, and accurately evaluate the instant probability of a person developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Ouyang received her bachelor’s degree at Nanjing University and her PhD from HKUST after which she continued her neuroscience research in Hong Kong for neurodegenerative diseases. Her own research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and has identified multiple therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative disease.
She joined Cognitact with a vision of translating the biomarker research into real applications that can be used by the public.
Dr Ouyang said the team at HKUST has identified 19 out of the 429 plasma proteins associated with Alzheimer’s to form the biomarker panel representative of an “AD signature” in the blood.
She explained that based on this panel, the team has developed a scoring system that distinguishes Alzheimer’s patients from healthy people with more than 96% accuracy. This system can also differentiate early, intermediate and late stages of Alzheimer’s and be used to monitor the progression of the disease.
Most notably, this blood test can detect the presence of Alzheimer’s disease five to 10 years before symptoms appear.
Moreover, through multi-dimensional analysis of the human body systems based on the detected protein levels, Dr Ouyang said it can evaluate the status of those areas that may be affected in Alzheimer’s disease, including immune, metabolic, nervous and vascular processes, potentially providing more personalised analysis and treatments.
Dr Ouyang said early detection of Alzheimer’s is critical given that treating it remains a challenge. Patients are only diagnosed when symptoms, such as memory loss, appear. But the actual onset of the disease can be many years earlier.
“The blood test, as you know, the accuracy to detect AD indications is 96% and we can also achieve early screening and early detection of this group of people. The current clinical diagnosis is really too late, when the patient develops the symptoms. The early detection of the disease will help them to save some time. You will have the early intervention of the disease and hope that it will facilitate a cure.
This microfluidic chip will be used to perform protein biomarker measurement, which allows high-throughput sampling and ultrasensitive detection.
“It can assist the longitudinal monitoring of the disease as well. It means that if a patient has already developed AD, our blood test solution can help to evaluate the disease status and also as a way to evaluate if the treatment is having some effect on the disease, delaying the disease, or inhibiting the disease progression as well.
“So we think that our blood test solution is really helpful in the early detection, and also supports and facilitates the early disease management for patients.”
The research facility that has developed the blood test was set up by HKUST in 2020. It received HK$500m worth of government funding. Aside from the blood test, Dr Ouyang said the team is also looking at developing new genome-editing technology treatments for Alzheimer’s.
The work is helping push Hong Kong to the forefront of neurodegenerative disease research.
Current Alzheimer’s disease treatment relies on six existing drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. But Dr Ouyang said they have their limitations.
“There are six drugs launched at the US FDA market for AD cure and five of them actually for the symptomatic relief only, such as the psychiatric symptoms or to reduce stress. They are not curing the disease.
“The last one is a monochloride antibody targeted AD drug launched onto the market in 2021, but because the side effects were quite severe it was withdrawn and then the same company launched another product with an enhanced efficacy.
“Of course, we hope that it can really help to treat AD, but the thinking within the team is that the disease may be diagnosed very late because when the patient really encounters the memory problem, actually the disease is already severe.
“These pathological changes in the brain are irreversible, so that is why the cure for AD does not have that much good efficacy.
“So, we hope this blood test will not only support early detection, but that through this early detection we can identify these group of people and give them early treatment so this can help them suffer less and give them a better quality of life.”
Dr Ouyang said she is confident the HKUST team will continue to play a leading role in advancing research into Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases, “to move on the development of precision diagnosis and medicine that will benefit people across the world.”
Long-term gut health and female finance, London likes longevity
New York innovator Salvo Health has secured $8.5m in Series A round as it looks to develop new, long-term, gut-health treatments.
The funding round was led by ManchesterStory, City Light Capital and Threshold Ventures, with additional support from The Artemis Fund, Owl Capital, Impact X Capital Partners, Torch Capital and Felicis Ventures.
Eric Collins, co-founder and general partner of Impact X Capital Partners, a UK-based venture capital firm, said: “The key with Salvo is patient-centred care.
“It’s critical to expand access to food as medicine and behavioural health to improve outcomes and lower, long-term health care costs.
“Salvo does exactly that and has shown 76 per cent of patients report improved symptoms, with five accepted abstracts on outcomes, and a 79 per cent drop in GI-related ER utilisation for its patients.
“We can have better care at lower costs with innovation, in the US, and ultimately in the UK and Europe as well.”
The raise brings Salvo’s total equity funding to US$21.6m. Roughly 60m Americans experience chronic gastrointestinal conditions each year.
Salvo Health is positioning itself in the space between overburdened clinics and patients’ everyday lives.
Female longevity in focus
Xella Health – a women’s precision platform focused on fertility, ageing, and body changes – has raised over US$3.7m in pre-seed funding.
The funds will support product finalisation, partnerships, and a Spring 2026 launch, focused on sex-specific longevity and preventive care.
The round was led by Precursor Ventures, with participation from Capital F, Ulu Ventures, and other funds, as well as, strategic angel investors across healthcare, diagnostics, and consumer technology.
Xella is aiming to propel women’s health beyond symptom-based care and fragmented testing to deliver ‘integrated biological insight, clarity, and foresight’.
The company combines advanced diagnostics, longitudinal data, and personalised clinician-led guidance to help women understand what’s happening in their bodies today – and what lies ahead – across fertility, chronic conditions, hormonal health, early cancer detection, and preventative care.
“Our mission is to give women the answers and care they have always deserved,” said Kelly Lacob, co-founder & CEO of Xella.
“Xella is building the infrastructure to decode female biology – getting to the root cause of conditions that uniquely, differently or disproportionately affect women, many of which suffer from an unacceptably poor standard of care today.”
“Xella is rethinking women’s health from the ground up – starting with the insight women need to make sense of their own biology over time,” said Ashtan Jordan, principal at Precursor Ventures.
Age well in London
Two London boroughs have launched their own initiatives aimed at supporting their ageing resident populations.
Basildon Council has approved a new Ageing Population Strategy to support older residents live healthy, independent and connected lives.
The number of residents aged 65 and over in Basildon is projected to rise steadily over the next decade, reflecting national longevity trends.
The council says its ‘taking a proactive, preventative approach to ensure Basildon remains an inclusive, accessible and sustainable place for residents of all ages’.
The strategy emphasises strong partnership working with health services, voluntary and community organisations, local businesses and residents.
Key commitments include:
- Supporting people to remain independent in their own homes for longer,
- Promoting age-friendly design in town centres and public spaces,
- Strengthening dementia-friendly communities,
- Expanding opportunities for volunteering and employment, and
- Continuing investment in activity centres and community-led initiatives that reduce loneliness.
Cllr Melissa McGeorge, cabinet member for ageing population & health, said: “Our ambition is clear: to make Basildon a place where people can age well, feel valued, and continue to thrive at every stage of later life.
The ‘Life Curve’
Meanwhile the London Borough of Richmond has launched a new self-assessment tool developed by ADL Research and Newcastle University to help boost longevity.
The ‘Life Curve’ tool is designed to support healthy ageing with personalised advice and practical steps on how to stay active and independent.
Councillor Allen, lead member for adult social care, said: “Getting older doesn’t have to mean we stop being independent and there are small steps we can take to help reduce how getting older limits our lives.
“We have tools and services available in the borough to support residents to take these small daily steps to maintain their health and reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease, cancer and dementia.
“A new tool accessible right from your phone or any other online device is ‘Independent Richmond’, which helps you understand where you are on The Life Curve to help stay on track with healthy habits, keeping active and stay independent for longer.”
Bryan Johnson has launched a US$1m-a-year longevity programme with just three places, offering access to the exact protocol he has followed for five years.
The programme, called “Immortals”, is offered by the former fintech entrepreneur, now a prominent and often controversial figure in longevity.
Johnson’s unconventional methods have included Botox injections in his genitals (Botox relaxes muscles) and transfusions of blood from his teenage son.
There is no evidence these will help him outlive others.
The “Immortals” package includes a dedicated concierge team, 24/7 access to the BryanAI health coach, extensive testing, continuous tracking of millions of biological data points and what Johnson calls the “best skin and hair protocols.
A lower-cost supported tier is available at US$60,000 per year.
Rivals also target the ultra-wealthy: Biograph’s premium membership costs US$15,000 per year, while Fountain Life’s “ultimate longevity programme” is priced at US$21,500 annually.
Despite the higher price, Johnson’s offer is built on exclusivity, with only three spots available.
A French biotech has raised €12m to test whether GLP-1 drugs can modify osteoarthritis progression.
The funding will advance 4Moving Biotech’s lead programme, 4P004, toward a phase 2a proof-of-concept readout in knee osteoarthritis, a joint disease that causes pain and stiffness.
Despite affecting more than 600 million people worldwide, no therapy approved in Europe or the US has yet been shown to slow or modify disease progression in osteoarthritis.
4Moving Biotech is testing whether GLP-1 receptor agonists, drugs best known for diabetes and obesity, can succeed where others have fallen short.
“With this closing in place, we are well equipped to reach the next value-creation milestone by delivering robust phase 2a data and reaching a proof-of-concept inflection point,” said Luc Boblet, chief executive of 4Moving Biotech.
Rather than systemic administration, the company is testing whether GLP-1 biology can be made relevant to osteoarthritis by acting directly in the joint, targeting local inflammation and tissue responses that systemic approaches have repeatedly failed to address.
“By acting directly in the joint, 4P004 tackles pain, inflammation and tissue damage through GLP-1-mediated pathways,” said professor Francis Berenbaum, the company’s chief medical officer.
The study is designed to assess “dual efficacy: symptom relief and synovial health improvement via contrast-enhanced MRI,” which images the joint lining, with topline results expected in the second half of 2026.
The round was secured from private investors and family offices investing directly into 4Moving Biotech, a subsidiary of 4P-Pharma, and combines equity with loans, a structure the company says is aligned with long-term value creation.
It follows a €7.6m France 2030 i-Démo grant awarded last year and coincides with the transatlantic expansion of the INFLAM-MOTION phase 2a study to the US.
Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from 4P-Pharma, 4Moving Biotech has now raised around €30m in total, combining private capital with non-dilutive public funding.
The broader landscape for disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs offers little room for overconfidence.
A 2025 review of phase two and three osteoarthritis trials found that while “many DMOADs have progressed to clinical trials, very few have made a significant impact and none have been approved for clinical use.
Reviewing eleven candidates tested between 2010 and 2024, including small molecules, biologics and cell or gene-based therapies, authors conclude that failure has been driven less by any single mechanism than by the difficulty of demonstrating truly disease-modifying benefit.
Several programmes reported statistically significant effects on either pain or joint structure, but rarely both.
The review notes that “the clinical relevance of a marginal increase in one without the other remains unclear,” warning that structural effects without symptom relief may be clinically meaningless, while pain relief without structural protection could even accelerate disease progression.
Over the past decade, major programmes at Pfizer, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi have been discontinued or deprioritised after failing to deliver regulator-acceptable evidence of disease modification.
In 2020, Unity Biotechnology reported phase two data showing that its senolytic candidate UBX0101, developed as a disease-modifying therapy for knee osteoarthritis, failed to deliver clinically meaningful improvements in pain or joint structure.
Unity subsequently discontinued its osteoarthritis programme, exited the field entirely and ceased operations in 2025.
The phase 2a readout will be the point at which the GLP-1 approach in osteoarthritis either earns its next chapter or joins a long list of programmes that fell short.
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