SYNAPS Dx (SDx), a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is pleased to announce that physicians in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) areas will be among the first in the country to offer area residents access to DISCERN™, a minimally invasive diagnostic test. DISCERN assesses the factors directly related to the formation of synaptic connections in the brain impacting loss of memory and cognition in people living with AD, as well as regulators of amyloid plaque and tau formation—hallmarks of AD at autopsy.
“We’re very excited to offer DISCERN to the DFW communities and remain impressed by the active role the entire state of Texas is taking to tackle dementia and AD,” says Frank Amato, CEO and president, SDx. “AD is a major public health issue in Texas and according to the Alzheimer’s Association, affects approximately 390,000 Texans. We selected Texas as the first region for the commercial launch of DISCERN based upon this high need and the proactive strategies that the state has undertaken.”
Under the Texas State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease 2019-2023, Texas is implementing strategies to address AD including:
- Improving early detection of, reducing disease onset risks for, and improving treatment of AD and other dementias
- Educating health care professionals, caregivers and the public
- Providing caregiver support
- Advancing research related to AD and other dementias
- Collecting and evaluating information on efforts to prevent and treat AD and other dementias.
Amato further cites reports that show approximately 1.4 million unpaid caregivers provided care to Texans with AD, which equates to 1.6 billion hours of unpaid care at a cost of approximately $20.6 billion per year. Nationally, the economic burden of AD is estimated at over $290 billion.
“We already have significant interest throughout the Dallas medical community for DISCERN, which has demonstrated >95% specificity and sensitivity in identifying AD through long duration, autopsy-validated, blinded clinical trials,” adds Amato, citing the National Institutes of Health criteria that define AD at autopsy. “DISCERN has received Breakthrough Designation by the FDA and is the first AD test of its kind to earn Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) Codes 206U and 207U and has been reimbursed for people insured with Medicare Fee-For-Service. Currently, there are no FDA-approved tests that are as highly accurate as DISCERN for supporting clinicians’ diagnoses of AD, and we look forward to filling this void -- starting with the state of Texas."
SDx has appointed longtime Dallas resident and business executive Michael Gorton, CEO, Recuro Health, to its Advisory Council. Recently awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Central Plains, Gorton says, “Texans are truly fortunate to be in the first region for national commercialization of this amazing, highly accurate diagnostic test for AD. Thanks to the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the leadership team, more Texans will benefit from this important healthcare breakthrough.”
About SYNAPS Dx
SYNAPS Dx is a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Company offers DISCERN™, the first highly accurate, minimally invasive test supporting a clinician’s definitive diagnosis of AD versus other forms of dementia, even in people recently diagnosed with dementia. SYNAPS Dx’s laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as qualified to perform high complexity clinical laboratory testing. Physicians and patients seeking more information can visit https://discerntest.com/. For more information on the Company, visit https://www.synapsdx.com/. Contact: info@synapsdx.com.
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