Circular Genomics, Inc., a global leader in circular RNA (circRNA) biomarkers for precision neurology and psychiatry, has received a $250,000 investment from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) through its Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) program. The funding will support further studies of the company's circRNA blood-based biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
First-in-Class CircRNA Blood Tests
Circular Genomics is developing the first blood-based tests that harness the potential of circRNA to enable personalized diagnosis and treatment for complex neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as AD. The investment, titled "Alzheimer's Disease Specificity and Sensitivity Analyses of circRNA Blood Markers," will support research conducted in partnership with Carlos Cruchaga, PhD, Director of the NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center at Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis.
The project will further study the potential of circRNA biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of AD and specifically distinguish it from other dementias, helping shift diagnostic uncertainty into clarity for patients and their healthcare providers.
Addressing Diagnostic Challenges
"We are honored to receive this investment from the ADDF as we continue to advance our suite of circRNA-based tools aimed at addressing the need for reliable diagnosis and prognosis for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and present several advantages over current protein-based biomarkers," said Nikolaos Mellios, MD, PhD, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Circular Genomics. "Proper diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's can be challenging due to the complex nature of the disease, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, prolonging suffering for patients and their families."
Mellios emphasized that the company's goal is to transform the diagnostic and treatment journey for patients, enabling earlier detection, better patient stratification, and more personalized clinical management of the disease.
Scientific Advantages of CircRNA Biomarkers
Dr. Cruchaga, a renowned expert in neurogenomics and biomarker discovery, highlighted the potential of this innovative approach. "CircRNA biomarkers offer an exciting and promising approach for improving diagnostic accuracy and advancing personalized care for Alzheimer's as they may present several advantages over current protein-based biomarkers," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with Circular Genomics to progress this innovative technology with the goal of improving outcomes for individuals at risk of AD through an earlier and more accurate diagnosis."
CircRNAs have been shown to play important roles in brain development, maturation, function, and aging and have been linked to many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Their abnormal expression in pathological states positions them as novel diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for numerous brain disorders. CircRNAs are mainly expressed in brains but can also be measured in blood, representing a window into overall brain health.
Research Objectives and Impact
The research will further quantify and characterize blood brain-derived circRNA biomarkers to help create best-in-class tools for predicting AD's progression and enabling a more accurate diagnosis. This work addresses a critical need in Alzheimer's care, where diagnostic uncertainty has long been a significant challenge for patients and healthcare providers.
"Circular Genomics' work represents the type of innovative science needed to transform how we detect and diagnose Alzheimer's disease," said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at the ADDF. "By investing in accessible and scalable biomarker technologies, such as this one, we aim to accelerate earlier and more accurate diagnosis, which is a critical step towards moving to treating Alzheimer's with precision medicine, so the right patients get the right treatments at the right time."
Broader Applications and Company Vision
Circular Genomics is the world-leading developer of circular RNA-based precision medicine tools, data and diagnostics for precision neurology and psychiatry. Leveraging exclusive licenses and pioneering technologies in circular RNA, the company is aiming to reshape the standard of care for major depressive disorder and other neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Bipolar disorder. Initial products include assays to assess and tailor optimal treatment protocols for individual patients, resulting in more personalized and effective care.
Funding Initiative Context
The DxA is a $100 million global research initiative aimed at fast-tracking the development of biomarkers and diagnostic tools to aid in the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and related dementias. Created in July 2018, the initiative includes partners such as ADDF Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, the Dolby family, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
The ADDF, founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The foundation has awarded more than $370 million to fund 765 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 21 countries, and has played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market.
