The three new MILLIPLEX® MAP kits are validated, multiplexed immunoassays for measuring 21 biomarkers, including amyloid beta 1-40 and 1-42, serum amyloid P (SAP), total and phospho-Tau (Thr231), PARK7, and alpha synuclein. Levels of these biomarkers may be predictive of the formation of aggregates that interfere with nervous system functions, resulting in cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and other symptoms.
Compared to common biomarker detection techniques, the new kits increase assay throughput and specificity. Based on Luminex technology, the kits enable fast, sensitive, simultaneous quantification of multiple biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, or plasma.
"Levels of multiple biomarkers measured in the same sample describe the subject's neurological state more accurately than single biomarkers," said Dr. Jens Pahnke, Professor at University of Rostock and member of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). "Multiplex assays can provide the specificity we need for distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from related neurological disorders, especially in early stages of disease."
Four million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. alone, and Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, affecting 4% of individuals over the age of 80.1 Statistics like these underscore the need for a better understanding of neurological mechanisms. To facilitate this research, EMD Millipore has built the industry's largest portfolio of multiplexed neuroscience assays for the Luminex platform.
The new kits will become commercially available during November, 2010, with all kits planned to be launched by the end of the month.
1 de Lau LM, Breteler MM (June 2006). "Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease". Lancet Neurol 5 (6): 525–35.
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ABOUT EMD MILLIPORE EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, Merck Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 64 countries and pro forma 2009 revenues of $2.9 billion.
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