Olink Bioscience introduces a new precision proteomics solution for neurology

Uppsala, Sweden, January 27, 2016 - Olink Bioscience today launched Proseek® Multiplex Neurology I96x96 a new human protein biomarker panel that targets research into neurobiology and neurological diseases. This latest development of the Proseek platform expands the library of unique biomarkers available to over 440 in total, and opens up Olink’s innovative precision proteomics offering into a new and exciting field.

Neurological diseases represent a massive and growing challenge for global healthcare, with more than one billion people worldwide suffering from the consequences of neurological diseases. The long term disability that characterizes these disorders places a huge burden on healthcare resources, and a rapidly aging population continues to accelerate the problem. Estimates for Europe alone in 2010 suggested that the direct healthcare costs for neurological disorders were of the order of 300 billion EUR.

Proseek Multiplex Neurology I^96x96 is designed to help scientists discover multiple neurology-related protein biomarkers and identify and verify clinically relevant protein signatures (characteristic expression patterns based on multiple proteins) that could make a significant and meaningful contribution towards meeting this huge healthcare challenge. This could pave the way for a better understanding and diagnosis of neurological disorders, and better targeted treatment for patients.

“Olink has already made an important contribution to protein biomarker discovery in key areas such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and we are delighted to be able to extend our Proseek offering to neurologists around the world. We believe that this new panel can play an important role in improving our understanding and treatment of neurological disorders, which have huge healthcare, social and economic impacts across the Globe. With the launch of this new panel, we are offering neurologists a powerful tool to quickly and effectively measure many relevant biomarkers simultaneously and identify clinically-relevant protein signatures. In the relatively near future, our customers would like to use such information to develop and validate smaller diagnostic panels that can be used to make important clinical decisions and facilitate more effective treatments, tailored to the individual’s needs. Olink will continue to develop in-line with our customers’ requirements, and we intend to partner them all the way, from larger-scale biomarker discovery through the development of validated clinical panels and the implementation of precision medicine” says Andrea Ballagi, VP Sales & Marketing at Olink Bioscience.

What the scientists say
“Olink's neurology panel is a unique tool to find new biomarkers and gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of neurological diseases, including pain research”, says Torsten Gordh, Professor of Clinical Pain Research at Uppsala University’s Department of Surgical Sciences.

“Olink's panels require such a small volume of material that it is now possible to analyze temporal profiles of multiple biomarkers of complex disease processes that would be very difficult to examine with other techniques” says Lars Hillered, Professor of Neurochemistry at Uppsala University’s Department of Neuroscience.

Product and technology information
Proseek Multiplex Neurology I^96x96 offers high-throughput multiplex immunoassays that measure 92 neurology-related proteins across 96 samples simultaneously using only one microliter of serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or almost any other type of biological sample. Using Proseek Multiplex, thousands of samples per week can be analyzed, which greatly accelerates the speed of protein biomarker research.

Proseek Multiplex is based on the proprietary Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) technology developed by Olink Bioscience. PEA is a homogeneous assay that uses pairs of antibodies equipped with DNA reporter molecules which upon target binding give rise to new DNA amplicons, each ID-barcoding their respective antigens. Cross-reactive events are not detected since the sequence design allows only the correctly matched antibody pairs to give rise to a signal. The amplicons are subsequently quantified by high throughput real-time PCR. This dual recognition, DNA-coupled method provides exceptional readout specificity and enables Proseek Multiplex to achieve a combination of high multiplexing level and data quality that cannot be matched using standard immunoassay techniques. An animation overviewing how the technology works and what it is used for can be viewed on Olink’s YouTube channel.

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.