Words by Jade Williams
Siemens Healthineers has received CE Mark approval for its Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) test for the management of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), allowing it to be launched in Europe.
The blood test, developed in collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG, will be useful in predicting the risk of MS-related nerve damage. This will help healthcare professionals manage the disease more effectively, prevent relapses and monitor disease progression.
“What patients need is an easily accessible, cost-effective and accurate blood-based test that would indicate early signs of neuronal injury and disease activity,” said Dr Dennis Gilbert, Head of Research, Development and Innovation for Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers. He called the test a “critical scientific advancement for MS patients”.
The Siemens product quantitatively measures NfL in the blood to help assess RMS patients’ risk of new or worsening disease activity over two years. The test is expected to improve neurological practice and support broader access to important diagnostics.
There are 2.8 million people living with MS worldwide – although this number is expected to be higher due to rates of under-diagnosis in remote and underserved communities.
A new study by the Multiple Sclerosis Trust also found that the number of people living with MS in the UK has increased by almost 13% between 2019 and 2024, with around 135 people being diagnosed each week, highlighting the need for medical advances.
However, this increase is not thought to be due to an increase in the risk of developing MS, but rather to the availability of better diagnostic tools such as this one, meaning that more cases are being diagnosed than ever before.
