Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp (NASDAQ:ADPT) has launched a research study, which will explore Lyme disease in its early stages of an infection. The study ImmuneSense Lyme™ will engage about 1000 participants from the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. These are the regions reportedly to have 96% of Lyme cases.
The bacterial infection is transmitted through infected ticks and starts with a bulls-eye rash. Other symptoms include fever, breathlessness, headache, body aches, joint, and fatigue. However, all there are non-specific because they overlap as symptoms for other illnesses, including COVID-19.
What will the ImmuneSense Lyme Study Entail?
“Our goal with this new study is to accelerate the development of a diagnostic focused on early detection of Lyme disease so people can be diagnosed and treated sooner…,’’ the Chief Medical Officer of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Lance Baldo.
Through its immune medicine platform, the company will measure the presence of specialized cells in the T-cells. These help in the identification of the disease in the early stages and its multiplication. Through the measurement, Baldo says they are convinced about accurately detecting a tick bite or the first sign of symptoms.
Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, which is completely a new approach, the company will be assessing how a person’s body naturally detect and respond to Lyme disease.
Uncovering New Information to Understand How Our Bodies Mount an Immune Response
Lyme disease can be a horrible disease, according to Linda Giampa, the executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. It is especially complex to diagnose and has left hundreds of people so devastated because 77 percent of patients exhibit symptoms that overlap with other neurological diseases.
The current diagnosis of the disease is through serology tests. The detection of antibodies could take several weeks. Thus early testing would result in a 60%-70% failure. On the other hand, the tests do not have clarity between an active infection and one that has resolved.
However, Giampa says their primary interest and persuasion is in uncovering new information, which would help the clinicians understand hoe bodies mount an immune response. With the information, they will be more confident while attending a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
