Taizhou company develops breakthrough Alzheimer's early detection kit

Mole Bioscience is established in Taizhou's China Medical City in 2008. [Photo/Mole Bioscience]

Jiangsu Mole Bioscience has unveiled a groundbreaking early detection kit for Alzheimer's disease, capable of identifying potential risks 10 to 15 years before clinical cognitive impairments become evident. This innovation provides a critical window for early intervention and treatment.

The detection method is non-invasive, painless, and easy to use, making it ideal for large-scale early screening. With over 9 million Alzheimer's patients in China—a number growing by 200,000 to 300,000 annually—this technology addresses a pressing healthcare need.

"Alzheimer's often progresses silently and is hard to distinguish from normal aging in its early stages, causing many patients to miss the optimal treatment window," said Zhou Linfu, chairman of Mole Bioscience. The company invested 15 million yuan ($2.06 million) and took nearly three years to develop the kit, which requires only a small blood sample for rapid diagnosis.

Li Yangxia, the company's R&D director, highlighted the advantages of this kit over existing diagnostic methods, such as imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Current procedures like PET-CT brain scans involve radiation and are limited to detecting single biomarkers, while cerebrospinal fluid testing requires invasive lumbar puncture and is costly. In contrast, the new kit offers a safer, simpler, and more comprehensive solution for early detection.

This innovation could significantly advance the early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease, improving outcomes for millions at risk.