FREMONT, Calif., July 7, 2026
Alamar Biosciences has announced the commercial launch of the world’s first multiplexed blood-based immunoassay for eMTBR-Tau, introducing a major advancement in Alzheimer’s disease biomarker research and precision neurology. The new assay, available through the NULISAseq™ Neuro 220 multiplex panel and as a single-plex assay via the company’s Technology Access Program (TAP), enables researchers to measure eMTBR-Tau, a highly specific blood biomarker that reflects tau neurofibrillary tangle pathology, one of the defining hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease progression. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on expensive and complex tau PET imaging, the new blood-based immunoassay provides a minimally invasive, scalable solution for measuring tau tangle burden, offering researchers a powerful tool for disease staging, patient stratification, therapeutic monitoring, and the development of next-generation Alzheimer’s therapies. The launch further strengthens Alamar’s precision proteomics platform and represents an important milestone in the transition toward accessible blood-based diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases.
First Multiplexed eMTBR-Tau Assay Expands Alzheimer’s Biomarker Research
The newly introduced eMTBR-Tau immunoassay utilizes Alamar’s proprietary NULISA™ technology to detect the microtubule-binding region (MTBR) fragment of tau protein with attomolar sensitivity, enabling highly sensitive and specific measurement from a simple blood sample. eMTBR-Tau has emerged as one of the most clinically significant biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease because it directly reflects tau neurofibrillary tangles, the pathological process most closely associated with cognitive decline and disease progression. Until recently, researchers primarily relied on tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate tau pathology, limiting widespread access because of high costs and operational complexity.
While existing blood biomarkers such as pTau-217 provide valuable information regarding amyloid pathology, they do not directly confirm the presence of tau tangles. The new immunoassay fills this critical gap by allowing researchers to evaluate tau pathology alongside multiple neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation biomarkers simultaneously from a single low-volume blood sample, significantly expanding opportunities for biomarker-driven clinical research and precision medicine.
Precision Proteomics Supports Future Alzheimer’s Clinical Research
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Beyond improving disease characterization, Alamar’s multiplexed eMTBR-Tau assay is expected to become an important tool for clinical trials evaluating disease-modifying therapies targeting tau pathology. Because eMTBR-Tau levels closely correlate with tau tangle burden, researchers may be able to monitor biological treatment responses using a simple blood draw rather than repeated PET imaging. The assay has been fully integrated into the NULISAseq™ Neuro 220 panel and is immediately deployable across the installed base of ARGO™ HT precision proteomics systems, enabling rapid adoption by neuroscience research laboratories worldwide.
Alamar will further highlight the technology during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026, where investigators will present new data demonstrating the assay’s analytical performance, strong correlation with tau PET imaging, and ability to stratify patients across multiple stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As blood-based biomarkers continue transforming neurodegenerative disease research, Alamar Biosciences is positioning its precision proteomics platform at the forefront of Alzheimer’s diagnostics by delivering highly sensitive, multiplexed biomarker analysis capable of supporting earlier diagnosis, improved patient selection for clinical trials, monitoring of therapeutic response, and the future advancement of personalized medicine for neurological disorders.
Source: Alamar Biosciences press release
