A Biomarker-chip Assay in Preserved Red Blood Cells for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

The ADCHIP study (ST0067) is a non-interventional, monocentric, prospective study conducted by Amoneta Diagnostics and the Leenaards Memory Center (Lausanne, Switzerland). Its main objective is to develop and validate a microfluidic chip-based protocol that stabilizes human red blood cells for several weeks, enabling subsequent testing of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. This proof-of-performance study will include 150 well-characterized participants divided equally into three groups: 50 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 50 with non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative diseases (NAD, including Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia), and 50 healthy controls (HC). The primary objective is to assess the diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) of two main blood-based biomarkers-amyloid-β (Aβ) and protein kinase C (PKC)-measured using Amoneta's proprietary fluorescent assays and chip-cytometry technology. The secondary objective is to evaluate emerging biomarkers (proteins, RNA signatures, metabolomic and lipidomic profiles) for Alzheimer's disease detection. No therapeutic intervention will be administered; only biological samples (blood and urine) will be collected. Results will be compared with existing clinical, imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. The study aims to provide a reliable, non-invasive, and affordable blood test for early Alzheimer's diagnosis, with potential applications for patient stratification and therapeutic monitoring in future clinical trials.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting approximately 35 million people worldwide. While several symptomatic treatments are available, there is currently no cure for advanced forms of AD. Early and accurate diagnosis is therefore essential, as it can help delay disease progression and improve patient management. Current diagnostic tools-clinical and neuropsychological assessments combined with neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers-are costly, invasive, and not easily accessible for large-scale screening. There is a pressing medical need for a simple, non-invasive, and reliable blood-based diagnostic test for AD. The ADCHIP study (ST0067) aims to develop and validate a chip-based microfluidic assay that stabilizes human red blood cells for extended periods (weeks to months) to enable subsequent detection of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. The study is conducted under the Eurostars program (Grant E!9748 ADCHIP) and sponsored by Amoneta Diagnostics, in collaboration with Zellkraftwerk GmbH and the Leenaards Memory Center (CLM) at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). This monocentric, non-interventional, prospective study will enroll 150 participants divided equally into three groups: 50 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 50 patients with non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative disorders (NAD: frontotemporal dementia or Parkinson's disease), and 50 healthy controls (HC). The primary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of two proprietary Amoneta blood biomarkers-amyloid-β (Aβ) and protein kinase C (PKC)-detected in red blood cells using specific fluorescent probes and chip-cytometry technology. The secondary objective is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of emerging biomarkers, including candidate proteins, RNA signatures, and metabolomic/lipidomic profiles. Participants will undergo a single study visit during which biological samples (blood and urine) will be collected. Pre-selection and diagnostic data (neuropsychological tests, imaging, and CSF biomarkers) will be obtained retrospectively when available. No investigational drug or medical device will be administered, and no follow-up visits are planned. The total duration of subject enrollment is approximately 22 months. Analytical methods include flow cytometry and chip-cytometry for cellular biomarkers, ELISA for protein biomarkers, mass spectrometry for metabolomic/lipidomic signatures, and qPCR or NGS-based assays for RNA biomarkers. All samples will be collected and stored under standardized conditions for further analysis. The primary outcome measure is the binary diagnostic classification (Yes/No for Alzheimer's disease) derived from the combined sensitivity and specificity of the blood biomarkers. Results will be compared with standard clinical diagnostic tools, including cognitive scores (e.g., MoCA, RLRI-16), structural MRI, and CSF biomarker results (Aβ42, total tau, phosphorylated tau). Potential risks for participants are minimal and limited to standard blood and urine collection procedures (e.g., minor pain, bruising, or transient discomfort). MRI procedures are non-invasive and will only be performed if indicated by clinical necessity. All participants (or legal representatives when applicable) will provide written informed consent prior to inclusion. The study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki, ICH-GCP, and national ethical and regulatory requirements. The ADCHIP study is expected to generate important new knowledge by validating a novel, rapid, and affordable blood-based diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. Such a test could substantially reduce diagnostic costs, enable population screening using stabilized blood samples, and improve patient stratification for therapeutic trials. Furthermore, the validated biomarkers, particularly Aβ and PKC, may serve as valuable tools for monitoring disease progression and assessing the efficacy of future AD therapeutics.