Biotechnology company Amarantus BioScience Holdings has announced plans to evaluate its LymPro Test as a potential diagnostic and prognostic for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma.
Just as the scientific basis of cell-cycle dysfunction supports the development of the LymPro Test as a diagnostic blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, the same principles may potentially be utilized in diagnosing CTE in individuals who have endured multiple head injuries. The test may also preventatively identify those predisposed to developing CTE before they ever engage in activities likely to result in multiple head injuries.
Various surveys and studies show that around 1.5 million Americans take part in contact sports at the collegiate and high school levels, and another 3.5 million participate in youth sports leagues. An estimated 1.6 million of these athletes suffer a concussion each year in the U.S., with another 1.7 million Americans suffering traumatic brain injury through accidents; additionally, 274,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have suffered traumatic brain injury since the year 2000. These statistics show the massive market potential for a CTE diagnostic/prognostic like the LymPro Test. As a blood test, LymPro would offer tremendous advantages over more complex and costly diagnostic alternatives – particularly the ability to detect the onset of CTE at an early stage.
In addition to the company’s planned Alzheimer’s studies, Amarantus intends to begin the evaluation process of LymPro for detecting CTE in the second half of 2013 through a small proof-of-concept clinical study.
For more information, visit www.amarantus.com
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