Octave’s MSDA Test Offers Actionable Insights for MS Care
Octave Bioscience, a precision care company focused on multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, has announced the publication of a real-world clinical utility study in Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical. The study, titled “Real-world clinical utility of a multi-protein, blood-based biomarker assay for disease activity assessments in multiple sclerosis,” evaluated how the Octave MS Disease Activity (MSDA) Test influences clinical decision-making across a variety of MS care settings.
Octave Bioscience’s MS Disease Activity (MSDA) Test, a clinically validated, multi-protein blood-based biomarker assay, is proving to be a powerful tool in the real-world management of multiple sclerosis (MS). Designed to measure 18 protein biomarkers associated with disease activity, the test offers neurologists a deeper, more objective view of a patient’s condition, allowing for more informed decisions around the initiation, adjustment, or discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
A recently published real-world study in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical evaluated how the MSDA Test influenced clinical decision-making across a wide spectrum of MS care environments. The research involved a retrospective analysis of 352 patient charts, with 723 test results reviewed by 20 clinicians from 14 different sites, including academic medical centers, regional hospitals, and community-based neurology practices. This diverse clinical setting was a key component of the study’s design, aimed at assessing the MSDA Test’s generalizability and utility in everyday practice.
Objective Insights That Influence Clinical Decisions
The results of the study were clear: the MSDA Test had a meaningful and consistent influence on MS care decisions. In nearly 60% (59.8%) of cases, a single MSDA Test result affected how clinicians chose to manage a patient’s disease. When clinicians reviewed multiple MSDA Test results over time, that impact increased to 69.2%, highlighting the value of longitudinal monitoring.
Perhaps even more compelling, nearly 1 in 5 test results (19.4%) directly led to changes in patient management. These changes included switching therapies, initiating new treatments, or discontinuing DMTs based on a patient’s individual disease activity. Even in cases where no treatment changes were made, the MSDA Test frequently reinforced the clinician’s decision, offering confidence in continuing the existing management plan.
Patterns of Use in Real-World Clinical Practice
Three key patterns emerged in how clinicians applied MSDA Test results to patient care:
- Low MSDA scores confirmed clinical stability, supporting a decision to maintain a patient’s current treatment regimen.
- Low MSDA scores also prompted treatment de-escalation, such as discontinuing a DMT when disease activity appeared low.
- High MSDA scores signaled increased disease activity, prompting physicians to initiate or switch DMTs in response.
These patterns underscore how the MSDA Test can offer valuable guidance across a broad range of clinical scenarios—whether confirming disease stability or identifying the need for a more aggressive therapeutic approach.
Building Confidence Through Repeated Use
Dr. Taylor Gonyou, the study’s lead investigator and a neurologist at the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND), emphasized how the test integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows and gains more value over time. “One of the biggest challenges in MS management is determining when to adjust treatment,” said Dr. Gonyou. “This study demonstrates that integrating multi-analyte biomarker data from the Octave MSDA Test into clinical workflows enhances decision-making, particularly with repeated use, as confidence in the MSDA Test grows over time.”
Addressing Gaps in Traditional MS Monitoring
Dr. Jennifer Graves, Senior Medical Advisor at Octave and Professor of Neurosciences at UC San Diego, highlighted the limitations of relying solely on imaging and symptom reporting to track MS progression. “Clinicians need more than traditional imaging and symptom tracking to assess disease activity effectively. Protein biomarkers have the potential to fill this gap,” said Dr. Graves. “Establishing a baseline with the MSDA Test allows for better interpretation of disease changes over time. The MSDA Test has the potential to optimize treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.”
A New Standard in Precision MS Care
Doug Biehn, CEO of Octave Bioscience, emphasized the company’s mission to improve care through precision tools. “Our goal is to empower both providers and patients with precision tools that transform MS care. We are encouraged to see how clinicians’ management plans change after reviewing the MSDA Test results,” he said. “Whether altering existing therapies or initiating new ones, the study clearly demonstrates that the MSDA Test is a precision tool that provides physicians with clinically actionable data. This enables more targeted, responsive treatment decisions and supports disease stability in real time.”
Widespread Adoption and Ongoing Impact
Today, the Octave MSDA Test is being adopted by leading MS Centers of Excellence, academic hospitals, and independent neurology practices across the U.S. Its use is helping to establish a new benchmark in biomarker-driven care for MS, providing clinicians with powerful, objective insights that elevate the standard of care.
About Octave Bioscience, Inc.
Octave Bioscience is a precision care company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, starting with MS. Its integrated solution combines advanced biomarkers, imaging, and patient data to support improved disease monitoring, treatment decision-making, and outcomes. The Octave MSDA Test is the first analytically and clinically validated blood-based biomarker test for quantitatively assessing MS disease activity—enabling personalized, data-driven care.
