Serenium announces a program with an unnamed global strategic partner for the next phase in the development of biomarkers for the early identification of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Serenium biomarkers program will deliver an easy-to-use urine test for primary care physicians to predict and pre-empt OSA chronic disease comorbidities during a patient’s annual physical or checkup by identifying those individuals suffering from OSA, according to Serenium. Additionally, a consumer version will allow individuals to screen themselves at home. This set of clinically validated biomarkers provides an economical and scalable test that can fulfill the need for early identification of people at risk for costly and debilitating chronic diseases.

Serenium’s diagnostic technology works by detecting biomarkers that are present in people with OSA. OSA is highly correlated to chronic disease. Since OSA alters the immune system and causes oxidative stress, it creates a cascade of negative health pathways that ultimately can contribute to chronic diseases. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that people with OSA are two to five times more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, depression, or cardiovascular disease.

“The importance of sleep is critical to improving patient and consumer long-term health, decreasing patient suffering and lowering health care costs,” says M. Cory Zwerling, CEO and chairman of Serenium, in a release. “With Serenium’s clinically validated biomarkers test, we have an economical solution to enable the early evaluation of sleep issues before they progress to chronic diseases.”

Serenium says its development of this test for sleep apnea biomarkers will increase the historically low diagnosis rate for sleep apnea. In fact, since people who snore have a high probability of having OSA, all snorers would be appropriate candidates for screening, Serenium says. The effect of this increased population testing will be to assist patients and consumers in obtaining treatment solutions via their physicians that will avoid or slow the progression towards costly chronic diseases.

Zwerling further says, “Serenium’s biomarkers could become a new standard diagnostic and screening solution that will overcome the hurdles of early sleep apnea testing for everyone. Such a test does not exist today.”

This expanded reach, through both primary care physicians and directly to consumers, will dramatically increase the diagnosis of OSA and expand treatment options for those at risk patients. Early treatment has the potential to slow or even prevent the onset of chronic disease.

Serenium is working with a global strategic partner to assist with the clinical advancement of this program to develop biomarkers. The partner’s expertise will accelerate the development of Serenium’s biomarkers solution for people around the world. At this time, the strategic partner remains confidential.