Not for publication in the U.S.
Rev. December 12, 2024.
- New blood test developed in collaboration with Novartis aims to improve management of MS
- Identifying MS-related neuronal injury earlier would support better management of the disease
- NfL, as a blood-based biomarker, shows potential in supporting other neurological diseases
Siemens Healthineers now has a blood test for multiple sclerosis (MS) disease management available for sale in Canada. The company is the first in the Canada to receive Health Canada licensing1 for its Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) assay for use on the Atellica IM Analyzer2, developed in collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG. The test will be useful alongside other clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings to help predict the risk of MS disease activity in a patient with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS). Identifying risk of MS-related neuronal injury earlier in patients with RMS would support neurologists and other physicians in better managing the disease, and potentially help to prevent relapses and worsening of disease.3
MS is an immune-mediated inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disease in which axonal loss is the major cause of irreversible neurological damage leading to disability. As of last year, the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) estimates that approximately 2.9 million people worldwide are living with multiple sclerosis (MS).4
"While there is no cure for MS, treatments exist to decrease the frequency of relapses, thought to be associated with nerve cell damage and disease progression. What patients still need is an easily accessible, cost-effective, and accurate blood-based test that would indicate early signs of neuronal injury and disease activity," said Dr. Dennis Gilbert, Head of Research, Development, and Innovation for Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers. "Neurofilament light chain, or NfL, has emerged as a leading biomarker of nerve cell damage. Having access to a test that measures this protein capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to support earlier prognostication of disease activity would be a critical scientific advancement for MS patients."
“The recent Health Canada approval of a neurofilament light chain (NfL) blood test is an important advancement in improving timely and comprehensive care for people living with MS,” said Dr. Pamela Valentine, CEO and President, MS Canada. “The availability of this blood test will provide neurologists with a monitoring tool for early detection of disease activity to inform decision-making and enhance treatment and care of Canadians living with MS.”
The NfL assay from Siemens Healthineers is for in vitro diagnostic use in the quantitative measurement of NfL in both human serum and plasma. The blood test, in conjunction with clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings, is intended to be used as an aid in identifying adult patients between 18-55 years of age with RMS, who are at a higher versus lower risk of MS disease activity, as defined by new or enlarging T2 magnetic resonance imaging lesions, within a two year- period.
Blood-based biomarkers such as NfL are expanding the understanding of neurological diseases. They also are expected to rapidly change the practice of neurology.5 Siemens Healthineers is well-positioned with the Atellica Solution to support neurological diseases with tests that can be run on widely accessible laboratory platforms, making these types of tests available to more physicians for their patients.
Learn more about the NfL assay here
To talk to someone at Siemens Healthineers about NfL, please contact Catherine Bodroghy.
Catherine Bodroghy
Market Development Manager - Assays, Canada
catherine.bodroghy@siemens-healthineers.com
About Siemens Healthineers:
Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 71,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €21.7 billion. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.