Bipolar diagnostic test launch accelerated

On World Bipolar Day, EIT Health, part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), celebrates the EDIT-B Consortium's accelerated launch of a ground-breaking diagnostic test for bipolar disorder, made possible by their support. 

EIT Health-supported innovation project EDIT-B has developed a blood diagnostic test designed to differentiate bipolar disorder from depression using RNA editing biomarkers and artificial intelligence. This milestone has been reached two years earlier than initially planned.

Jean-Marc Bourez, CEO of EIT Health, said: "The EDIT-B consortium, led by our partner ALCEDIAG (Alcen Group), is directly addressing the challenge of improving bipolar disorder diagnosis. This not only supports EIT Health's main mission of helping citizens live healthier and longer lives but also emphasises the importance of mental health as a crucial aspect of care management and community wellbeing."

Approximately 2.3% of the European population is affected by bipolar disorder, yet the average diagnostic delay is 8-10 years due to confusion with symptoms of depression. The EDIT-B Consortium, backed by a €5.2 million budget and featuring experts from ALCEDIAG, Alcen, Capital Region of Denmark, Fundació Clinic per la Recerca Biomèdica, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, ProductLife Group, and SYNLAB, aims to dramatically reduce this diagnostic delay.

Through EIT Health's support, strategic guidance, and assistance in navigating recent regulatory changes, the consortium is now able to bring its ground-breaking test to market in 2023, a full two years ahead of the projected launch date of 2025. EDIT-B has already undergone clinical validation in two studies on independent cohorts, and is CE IVD marked, boasting sensitivity and specificity rates above 80%. The test will be made available to healthcare professionals and their patients across Europe, helping practitioners make quicker diagnoses and improving patient care and management.

Alexandra Prieux, CEO of ALCEDIAG, added: "EIT Health's role in EDIT-B's success cannot be overstated. They not only shared our vision for innovation but also provided unwavering support. The EIT Health network's strength enabled us to form a robust consortium with industrial partners like SYNLAB and clinicians, whose collaboration extended beyond the project's initial scope to deliver this innovation to European citizens."