Deal is centered on the detection of a neuron-specific protein target.

Novartis inked a deal to evaluate Quanterix’ Single Molecule Array (SiMoA™) technology for the detection of an undisclosed neuron-specific protein target. SiMoA is designed to validate novel, low-abundance biomolecules from a single droplet of blood and other tissues using digital technology. Quanterix says that it offers 1,000 times the sensitivity of analog-only array technologies.

SiMoA isolates individual immunocomplexes on beads using standard ELISA reagents. The beads are loaded into arrays containing femtoliter-sized wells, and the arrays are sealed in the presence of the enzyme substrate and fluorescently imaged. By using high-density arrays containing 50,000 to 500,000 wells, hundreds to thousands of single immunocomplexes can be detected simultaneously.

“Through this collaborative project, we hope to leverage the 1000-fold sensitivity improvement of SiMoA technology to develop a novel class of valuable diagnostic tests that will provide greater insight into disease and improve patient outcomes,” states David Okrongly, Ph.D., Quanterix President and CEO.

Founded in 2007, privately held Quanterix a year later realized $15 million in a Series A financing. Last November it won a $733,437 grant under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project for the development of SiMoA. The technology has the potential to be applied to disease diagnosis, therapy selection, and disease monitoring.

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