Catalyzing the Transformation to Precision Neurology
Sunbird Bio is enabling precision neurology through the development of blood-based diagnostic tests that provide unprecedented insights to support earlier, more accurate diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders.
We are the first company to overcome the challenge of directly detecting and differentiating the specific proteins that aggregate in the brain and signal the presence of disease with a simple blood draw.
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, with devastating consequences for patients and their families. The growing availability of medications being developed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders increases the importance of accurate and timely diagnosis and monitoring for all patients.
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that most patients with dementia have co-pathologies that go undetected and likely could impact therapeutic effectiveness. Through directly detecting diseased proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological disorders, our blood-based technology has demonstrated the potential to be the first to detect these co-pathologies and enable precision neurology. This information can provide researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive set of diagnostic information to allow for differential diagnoses, which can enable more precise treatment with the right therapies and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
To our knowledge, our platform is the only one capable of delivering this level of diagnostic insight for neurological disorders.
Our Technology
Our proprietary technology, which operates in an ELISA or APEX sensor format, has demonstrated breakthrough potential to dramatically improve standards of care in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders.
Up to 40 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Due largely to diagnostic limitations, 50% of these individuals will never receive a referral to a neurologist or memory care specialist.
While early detection of Alzheimer’s disease has substantial clinical benefits and can empower affected individuals and their care partners to make proactive decisions about future treatment and care, currently available diagnostic tests may impede early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.
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It is estimated that the global economic burden of Alzheimer’s disease in 2019 was roughly $2 trillion, and by 2050, that burden will rise sharply to about $10 trillion and perhaps as high as $13.5 trillion, underscoring the critical need for improved diagnostics and treatment.
PET imaging, the current gold standard, is expensive, often inaccessible and not scalable
Molecular diagnostics use cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained through painful, expensive and invasive procedures
Cognitive behavioral assessment is subjective, unreliable and can’t distinguish early stages of disease
Data from a landmark study in people with Alzheimer’s disease show that the APEX test has over 90% correlation to gold-standard PET.
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