Roche Receives CE Mark for Elecsys NfL Blood Test to Monitor Multiple Sclerosis Neuroinflammation
Key Insights
Roche's Elecsys Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL (search)) blood test has received CE mark approval for detecting neuroinflammation in adults with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
The minimally invasive blood test offers a more accessible alternative to resource-intensive MRI scans for monitoring neuroaxonal damage associated with MS.
The test measures NfL (search) protein released during nerve cell injury, providing insights that complement routine clinical assessments and could enable earlier clinical intervention.
Roche announced that its Elecsys Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL (search)) test has received CE mark approval for the detection of neuroinflammation in patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The test represents a significant advancement in MS disease management, offering clinicians a minimally invasive method to monitor the biological damage caused by multiple sclerosis through a simple blood test.
Addressing Critical Monitoring Challenges
Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2.9 million people worldwide, with early and regular monitoring of disease activity being critical to optimizing treatment. However, many patients face difficulties accessing routine assessments such as MRI scanning that would allow timely detection of changes in their condition. The Elecsys NfL (search) test addresses these access barriers by providing a different type of insight through measuring biological markers of neuroaxonal damage that reflect neuroinflammation.
"This approval marks a transformative step forward in how we support adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)," said Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics (search). "The availability of a simple blood-based test has the potential to complement resource-intensive MRI scans and improve access for patients with RRMS. The Elecsys NfL (search) test will help healthcare providers support timely clinical reassessment, enabling better disease management and more personalised care for patients."
Technical Innovation and Clinical Application
The test measures Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL (search)), an abundant cytoskeletal protein found almost exclusively in neurons and serves as a sensitive indicator of neuroaxonal damage. Under normal conditions, NfL is released at low levels from axons; however, release increases with age and following neuroaxonal damage. Consequently, abnormally elevated NfL concentrations can be measured in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in a range of acute and chronic neurological disorders.
The Elecsys NfL (search) test is an in vitro quantitative immunoassay for the measurement of NfL (search) protein in human serum and plasma, intended to reflect neuroinflammation in adult subjects diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. These insights complement routine clinical assessments and MRI, potentially aiding in earlier and better-informed clinical management.
Improved Accessibility and Standardization
Performed on Roche's widely available cobas instruments, the Elecsys NfL (search) test provides standardized and consistent results, ensuring reliable insights regardless of where the test is carried out. Requiring only a simple blood sample, collections can be done locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to specialist centres. With traditional testing for multiple sclerosis often limited by geographic, financial, or logistical barriers, Elecsys NfL makes frequent monitoring more practical and accessible.
The test was granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the US FDA in November 2023. Following CE Mark approval, broad access to testing will exist through the large number of instruments currently available in countries accepting CE mark.
Strategic Focus on Neurology
Neurology represents a major focus of research and development at Roche, with the company investigating more than a dozen medicines for neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Roche Diagnostics (search) has developed a broad range of approved and investigational tools, including digital and blood-based tests and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) assays, aiming to more effectively detect, diagnose and monitor neurological conditions.