Roche Diagnostics Introduces Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis Test Solution at Korean Dementia Association Conference

Roche Diagnostics Korea announced on the 22nd that it participated in the ‘2024 Korean Dementia Association Spring Scientific Conference’ held on the 20th at the Baekbeom Kim Koo Memorial Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where it introduced the Elecsys assay used for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing of Alzheimer’s dementia.

At the 2024 Korean Dementia Association Spring Conference, Cristiano Tunesi, Head of Global Neurology Business at Roche Diagnostics, is presenting on the topic "Various Overseas Cases of Elecsys Alzheimer's Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid Testing."
[Photo by Korea Roche Diagnostics]

The conference was held under the theme ‘Welcoming a New Era in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment.’ Roche Diagnostics Korea introduced the ‘Elecsys Beta (β)-Amyloid (1-42) CSF II’ and ‘Elecsys Phosphorylated Tau (181P) CSF’ assays, which were approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in July last year and introduced domestically.

Additionally, presentations related to the Elecsys assays were made at the conference. In the first session of the conference, held under the theme ‘Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment and Latest Insights Using Monoclonal Antibodies,’ Cristiano Tunesi, Head of Global Neurology Business at Roche Diagnostics, presented on the topic ‘Various Overseas Cases of Elecsys Alzheimer’s Dementia Cerebrospinal Fluid Testing.’

Tunesi presented on ▲the global social burden related to brain diseases ▲the entire process from diagnosis to treatment of Alzheimer’s patients ▲the clinical utility and importance of Alzheimer’s CSF testing ▲and actual applications of Alzheimer’s CSF testing in France, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He emphasized, “Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is key to helping preserve patients’ cognitive function and enabling appropriate treatment and disease management,” adding, “Biomarker testing plays an important role in diagnosing Alzheimer’s before clear symptoms appear and in identifying candidates for causal control therapies as early as possible.”

Alzheimer’s CSF testing is used in dementia diagnostic guidelines worldwide. The 2021 revised domestic clinical practice guidelines of the Korean Dementia Association specify that, along with amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans, it can be considered with a high level of evidence for improving diagnostic accuracy of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Roche Diagnostics’ Elecsys CSF assay shows excellent concordance with PET image interpretation and offers high cost-effectiveness compared to PET scans. It is also safe as it does not require the injection of radioactive tracers.

Kit Tang, CEO of Roche Diagnostics Korea, stated, “The social burden of Alzheimer’s dementia will continue to grow,” and added, “Roche Diagnostics Korea will continue to strive to rapidly introduce Alzheimer’s diagnostic solutions domestically to support appropriate treatment of dementia patients through early diagnosis and to improve the quality of life for their families.”