APEX
Our lead technology platform positions us to have a meaningful impact in multiple diseases, starting with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease
APEX is a blood-based diagnostic platform that is uniquely capable of directly detecting very low levels of nanoscale, disease-specific protein states from the brain with accuracy equivalent to optical detection methods such as PET imaging.
APEX uses a proprietary sensor platform and optical amplification to accurately and directly detect extracellular vesicle (EV)-bound disease-specific aggregated proteins from the brain that play a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. These important biomarkers include amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, alpha synuclein (α-synuclein), TDP43, and other protein and non-protein biomarkers.
Due the proprietary design of the APEX platform, Sunbird Bio has the unique capability to easily add assays to the platform as research continues to uncover new protein biomarkers that signal the presence of neurological disorders.
APEX Enables Detection of EV-Protein Aggregates
PATENTED PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY
SENSOR ARRAY
Size-matched nanoholes in optimized geometry
Sensitive and enhanced detection of EVs
Healthy: green light signal
Diseased: red-shifted light signal
OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION ASSAY
Biomarker co-localization: Optical deposits form
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Direct detection of EV-protein aggregates in native blood samples
Case in Point: Alzheimer’s Disease
In individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, “sticky” Aβ, tau, α-synuclein and other protein molecules accumulate in the brain, forming aggregates and deposits that disrupt cell function. These proteins may naturally pass through the blood-brain barrier, whether healthy or unhealthy; however, our team discovered that proteins that aggregate preferentially bind to nanoscale EVs in the brain that pass through the blood-brain barrier. Leveraging this discovery, we developed a patented method for detecting the presence of EVs and the associated proteins in Alzheimer’s disease.
While other diagnostic methods cannot differentiate between healthy and unhealthy proteins, studies have shown that APEX can directly detect very low concentrations of these aggregated EV-bound proteins with high correlation to PET scans, but with a simple blood draw.
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Aggregated or “sticky” protein molecules in the brain bind to lipid particles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs).
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Scarce levels of these EVs pass through the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream.
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APEX is the only diagnostic platform that specifically detects low concentrations of these EV-bound biomarkers and their protein cargo.
Published data confirm that the APEX approach:
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Provides accurate detection and clinical subtyping of Alzheimer’s disease equivalent to the current gold standard, PET imaging.
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Has the potential to accurately and directly detect tau aggregation in the brain via blood test.
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Significantly improves upon all other available blood-based tests.
