Biomarker for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Autoimmune Disease

Application

• Diagnosis and detection of autoimmune disease.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of treatments.

Development Status

Method validated using blood samples of diseased patients, along with single-cell sequencing datasets.

IP Status

Priority patent filing was carried out in February 2025.

Commercial Offerings

Licensing partner.

Opportunity

• Autoimmune disorders affect around 10% of the global population and are the third most common cause of chronic illness in the United States. These conditions can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening, organ damage.
• Reliable biomarkers do not exist for many of these diseases, which makes early diagnosis and personalised treatment difficult.
• Identifying specific biomarkers could help by enabling earlier, more targeted interventions and improving long-term outcomes.

Technology

The inventors have identified a distinct subset of B cells that is expanded in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren’s syndrome, based on single-cell sequencing data. Alongside this cell population, a biomarker was found to be consistently elevated in these diseases. Its presence in the blood serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome further supports its potential as a diagnostic or monitoring tool.

This discovery offers a straightforward method for assessing disease activity through a blood test, providing valuable insight into disease state and progression. In addition to its diagnostic potential, the biomarker and associated B cell subset may represent a novel therapeutic target in autoimmune disease.

Benefits

Compared to existing diagnostic approaches in autoimmune disease, this technology offers:

• A novel and specific method for identifying and monitoring autoimmune diseases.
• A cross-disease biomarker that may act as a broader indicator of autoimmunity.
• A simple, blood-based test that enables accessible and minimally invasive diagnosis.
• A potential therapeutic avenue through selective targeting of the biomarker and/or associated B cell subset.

Publication

Cochlin-Expressing Memory B (COMB) Cells Are Enriched in Autoimmune Diseases and Display a Distinct Activation Profile. Rebecca L Belmonte, Mohini Gray.

Quote: TEC1104837