A Blood Test Designed to Differentiate Depression and Bipolar Disorder

ALCEDIAG, OM Pharma Suisse, and Unilabs announce the launch of EDIT-B®, the world’s first CE-marked and Swissmedic compliant blood test designed to differentiate depression and bipolar disorder, now available nationwide in clinical routine in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This innovative diagnostic solution, a breakthrough in mental health diagnostics, will be accessible to clinicians and patients, addressing a critical unmet medical need in mental healthcare

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major public health concern, affecting approximately 80,000 people in Switzerland. One of the most critical challenges is the long diagnostic delay – averaging 8 years between the onset of symptoms and an accurate diagnosis. This delay is primarily because BD and depression show significantly overlapping symptoms and are therefore often confused, leading to misdiagnosed patients receiving inappropriate treatment that may even worsen their health condition. The current practice for diagnosing BD relies on psychiatric clinical examination.

EDIT-B®’s objective is to help clinicians reach a quicker diagnosis, by offering high performance, validated and rapid biological answer to significantly reduce the diagnostic uncertainty and delay between depression and BD. Available by prescription only, the test is intended for adult patients presenting with a moderate to severe major depressive episode and under treatment.
This launch is made possible through the productive collaboration of three key partners:

• ALCEDIAG, the French biotechnology company behind the test EDIT-B® and a pioneer in RNA biomarkers in precision psychiatry, developed the test and ensured its regulatory compliance using state-of-the-art Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology coupled with proprietary AI algorithms. Alexandra Prieux, CEO of Alcediag, says: “The introduction of EDIT-B® in Switzerland marks an important milestone in our mission to advance innovation and precision psychiatry. We are happy to collaborate with OM Pharma and Unilabs, whose talented teams are as committed as we are to the wellbeing of patients”.
• OM Pharma Suisse will promote and support medical education around the test in Switzerland. Dr. Daniele Andreutti, General Manager of OM Pharma Suisse, stated, “OM Pharma Suisse is proud to support the launch of EDIT-B® in Switzerland. This test demonstrates how science and technology can transform patient care in psychiatry and help bring a faster diagnosis to the patients.”
• Unilabs will serve as the central laboratory, providing EDIT-B® to clinicians and their patients across the country, ensuring broad clinical access. Dr. Dany Mercan, Head of Medical of Unilabs Switzerland, notes, “Unilabs is proud to bring EDIT-B® to clinicians across Switzerland. With our strong expertise in molecular diagnostics and a nationwide footprint of 18 labs, 24 blood collection centers, numerous partners and flying nurses, we’re ensuring broad access to this landmark breakthrough in psychiatric diagnostics and improving care for patients facing mental health challenges.”

➡️ Source: Press release | 📸 Canva Library and OM Pharma