Octave Bioscience Forms Strategic Collaboration with Quest Diagnostics to Expand Patient Access to the Octave® Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test Across the United States

Key Terms

multiple sclerosis medical

A chronic neurological disease in which the immune system damages the protective coating (like insulation on electrical wires) around nerves, disrupting signals between the brain and body and causing symptoms such as numbness, weakness, vision problems, fatigue and mobility issues. It matters to investors because the unpredictability and long-term nature of the condition drive ongoing demand for treatments, influence the value of companies developing therapies, affect healthcare costs and shape regulatory and reimbursement decisions.

Parkinson’s disease medical

A progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs movement, balance and certain mental functions by reducing the brain’s ability to produce a chemical important for controlling motion. Investors care because it creates a large, growing market for treatments, devices and care services; success or failure of drugs and clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and long-term care costs can materially affect pharmaceutical and medical-device company valuations.

biomarkers medical

Biomarkers are measurable indicators found in the body, such as substances in blood or tissues, that reveal information about health or disease. For investors, they can signal how well a medical treatment is working or whether a disease is developing, helping to assess the potential success or risks of healthcare companies or innovations. Think of biomarkers as biological signals that provide clues about a person’s health status.

phlebotomists medical

Phlebotomists are trained healthcare professionals who collect blood and other biological samples, label and handle them safely, and ensure specimens reach laboratories in usable condition. For investors, they matter because reliable, timely sample collection underpins diagnostic testing, clinical trials and lab revenue—think of them as the postal service for medical samples: errors or delays can slow drug development, trigger regulatory issues, and affect a healthcare company's operations and earnings.

CLIA-certified regulatory

CLIA-certified means a laboratory has passed U.S. federal standards for performing tests on human samples, showing its results are accurate, reliable and timely. For investors this matters because certification is often required to sell clinical test services, bill insurers, win hospital or physician partnerships and avoid regulatory penalties — much like a restaurant passing a health inspection or a car getting a safety sticker before it can be sold.

CAP-accredited regulatory

Cap-accredited means a laboratory or diagnostic service has been inspected and certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for meeting rigorous standards in testing accuracy, quality control, staff qualifications and reporting. For investors, CAP accreditation signals that the lab’s results are more reliable and that the operation meets a well-recognized regulatory benchmark, which can reduce clinical and regulatory risk and support market trust and reimbursement; think of it like a high-score health inspection for a restaurant.

Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test medical

A multiple sclerosis disease activity (MSDA) test is a laboratory blood test that measures molecules linked to immune activity to gauge whether a person’s multiple sclerosis is currently active or likely to worsen. Investors care because such tests can reduce uncertainty for doctors and patients, guiding treatment choices and driving demand, reimbursement and revenue potential for companies that develop or sell the test—much like a weather forecast helps people prepare and allocate resources.

Collaboration enables patients to access the Octave MSDA test at Quest’s approximately 7,000 patient access sites across the U.S. and establishes a pathway to introduce additional tests from Octave’s precision neurology portfolio over time.

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Octave Bioscience, a commercial-stage precision care company pioneering a new standard for managing multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, today announced a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, to make the Octave^Ⓡ Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test accessible through Quest’s nationwide specimen-collection network.

Providers that order the test from Octave will be able to refer patients with a test requisition to one of Quest’s 7,000 patient service centers and in-office phlebotomists across the United States. It also gives Quest first rights to consider to provide specimen collection services for future novel tests Octave is developing for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

“At Quest, we are committed to delivering diagnostics that empower people and their providers to make better-informed clinical decisions and advance the standard of care in neurodegenerative diseases like MS,” said Michael Racke, MD, a board-certified neurologist and Senior Medical Director of Neurology, Quest Diagnostics. “The Octave MSDA Test is an important clinical innovation because it harnesses comparatively simple blood testing to illuminate relapse and treatment response in patients with MS, helping to reduce reliance on specialized imaging technologies alone. By making it available through our nationwide network of patient service centers, Quest is making it easier for patients and their physicians across the country to access these insights.”

The Octave MSDA Test is the first and only clinically¹ and analytically² validated multi-analyte blood test that reports an MS disease activity score. It provides clinicians with reliable, objective data to support and inform proactive treatment decisions including whether or not to initiate, discontinue or switch a drug therapy. In a study published in Clinical Immunology¹, the MSDA Test outperformed a single biomarker (NfL) test, offering early detection and deeper insights into MS disease activity.

“We are excited to collaborate with Quest Diagnostics to expand access to precision MS care,” said Doug Biehn, CEO of Octave Bioscience. “With Quest, the Octave MSDA Test will be available nationwide and simpler for physicians to order, establishing a scalable path to bring forward additional tests from Octave’s expanding portfolio in neurological disease over time and reinforcing Octave’s leadership in precision neurology.”

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects more than one million people in the U.S. Today, MS is commonly managed with clinical assessments, patient-reported symptoms, and MRI imaging. However, this is challenging because symptoms and MRI activity often do not align³, highlighting the need for biomarkers to reflect the underlying biology.

The Octave MSDA Test uses a simple blood test to measure 18 validated protein biomarkers, giving clinicians and patients a clear, data-driven view of disease activity to guide proactive treatment decisions. The test is reimbursed by multiple payers and supported by a patient affordability program. The MSDA Test is performed in Octave’s CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, and New York State CLEP-approved laboratory in Menlo Park, California.

About Octave Bioscience, Inc.
Octave Bioscience, Inc. is a leading precision care company pioneering multi-analyte biomarker-driven solutions for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with multiple sclerosis. Octave’s comprehensive solution provides objective, actionable insights to improve disease monitoring, treatment decisions, and patient outcomes. The company’s flagship product, the Octave Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test, is the first clinically and analytically validated blood-based biomarker test that enables physicians to quantitatively measure MS disease activity, allowing for more informed treatment decisions and personalized disease management over time. For more information, visit www.octavebio.com.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across the healthcare ecosystem to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We provide diagnostic insights from the results of our laboratory testing to empower people, physicians and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from one of the world's largest databases of de-identifiable clinical lab results, Quest's diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our more than 55,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives and create a healthier world. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

1. Chitnis T, Foley J, Ionete C, et al. Clinical validation of a multi-protein, serum-based assay for disease activity assessments in multiple sclerosis. Clin Immunol. 2023;253:109688. doi:10.1016/j.clim.2023.109688
2. Qureshi F, Hu W, Loh L, et al. Analytical validation of a multi-protein, serum-based assay for disease activity assessments in multiple sclerosis. Proteomics Clin Appl. 2023;17(3):e2200018. doi:10.1002/prca.202200018
3. Dünschede J, Ruschil C, Bender B, et al. Clinical-Radiological Mismatch in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during Acute Relapse: Discrepancy between Clinical Symptoms and Active, Topographically Fitting MRI Lesions. J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):739. Published 2023 Jan 17. doi:10.3390/jcm12030739

 

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Mary Conway

mconway@mkcstrategies.com

516-606-6545

Source: Octave Bioscience