Octave receives $10M from Michael J. Fox Foundation to advance PD biomarker assay

Octave Bioscience Inc. has received a $10M grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to advance a custom protein biomarker panel to clinically measure Parkinson’s disease activity and progression.

According to a release from Octave, the multiplexed biomarker assay is likely to accelerate research and development of novel therapies and provide a tool for better monitoring and management of the disease.

“This project is incredibly meaningful to us, as it further extends our mission to build precision care solutions that transform the lives of people living with high cost, complex, and debilitating neurodegenerative conditions,” Octave founder and CEO William Hagstrom said in the release. “We’re excited to apply our experience and learnings from multiple sclerosis to Parkinson’s and help change the treatment paradigm for people living with this disease.”

With the grant, Octave plans to leverage the foundation’s data resources, including the MJFF Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a longitudinal, observational, multi-center study that examines progression of clinical features, imaging outcomes, biologic and genetic markers and digital outcomes of disease across all PD stages.

“Biomarker testing is a promising development in identifying best responders to certain treatments, evaluating treatment impact, and tracking disease progression — all things that would improve disease management and patient outcomes,” Mark Frasier, PhD, chief scientific officer of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, said in the release. “This precision approach enhances patient care and enables a holistic view of their condition.”