Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

SYNDECAN-3 BASED BLOOD TEST FOR EARLY ALZHEIMER’S DIAGNOSIS

Objective

SYNEAD aims to transform Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnostics by validating the world’s first syndecan-3 (SDC3)-based blood-test for early, affordable, and accessible detection. AD is typically diagnosed at late stages, as current tests rely on costly or invasive cerebrospinal fluid and PET procedures. More than 80 % of early-stage patients remain undiagnosed until irreversible neurodegeneration occurs. As the first disease-modifying treatments are becoming available, and are only effective at the earliest stage of disease, there is an urgent need and large potential market, for a novel method for early detection of AD.

Building on Pharmacoidea’s patented technologies (EP4185874B1, US20230296629A1) and existing laboratory proof-of-concept (TRL 4), SYNEAD will advance the SDC3 diagnostic workflow to a validated, regulatory-ready level (TRL 6) through systematic analytical optimisation and biobank-based validation. SDC3 detection standardised and tested across monocyte, PBMC, and plasma matrices using quality-management principles consistent with ISO 13485 and aligned with EU IVDR analytical-performance requirements. Validation on 200 biobank samples will confirm diagnostic sensitivity ≥ 80 % and specificity ≥ 75 %, establishing SDC3 as an upstream, disease-causative biomarker.

In parallel, SYNEAD will generate CE-IVD-aligned technical documentation, a regulatory roadmap, and an investment-ready business plan supported by market, IP, and reimbursement analyses. Its exploitation strategy combines direct deployment in EU diagnostic laboratories with strategic licensing to industrial partners, enabling rapid market uptake while maintaining European production sovereignty. The project supports the EU’s goals in neurodegenerative-disease prevention, health-system resilience, and biomedical strategic autonomy, generating tangible economic and societal benefits through earlier AD detection and improved quality of life for patients and caregivers.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

PHARMACOIDEA FEJLESZTO ES SZOLGALTATO KFT
Net EU contribution
€ 484 575,04
Address
DERKOVITS FASOR 7-11
6726 Szeged
Hungary
SME
Yes
Region
Alföld és Észak Dél-Alföld Csongrád
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
No data