US company creates first-ever blood test that can diagnose autism, raises $19M

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States-based precision immunology company MARAbio Systems (MARAbio) has created the first-ever blood test capable of diagnosing Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism (MARA), a biological subtype of autism. This groundbreaking innovation marks a major milestone in autism detection, offering families the potential for earlier interventions.

To further support its mission, MARAbio recently raised $19 million in Series A funding, led by MAK Capital, which will fuel the commercialization of this diagnostic tool and advance therapeutic solutions by 2025.

How does it work?

The MARAbio blood test identifies the presence of specific autoantibodies in a mother that are linked to Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism (MARA). These autoantibodies, discovered by Dr. Judy Van de Water at the UC Davis MIND Institute, form the basis for MARA.

The test can diagnose autism as early as birth or even predict the condition before pregnancy. This precision immunology approach allows doctors and families to understand the risk of MARA earlier than ever before, potentially allowing for timely interventions that can mitigate the impact of more severe autism symptoms.

As Michael S. Paul, Ph.D., CEO of MARAbio, explains: "This test is a significant milestone that will accelerate our ability to bring this innovation to families in 2025."

Why does it matter?

The ability to detect MARA before or at birth could be a game changer for families affected by autism. MARA is estimated to account for around 20% of all autism cases, particularly more severe forms of the condition. Early detection through MARAbio's blood test will enable behavioral interventions and treatments that have already shown promise in various clinical studies. This development offers new hope for managing a condition that has profound implications for both children and their families.

Michael A. Kaufman, CEO of MAK Capital, highlights the impact of this technology: "This capital raise will enable the commercialization of a powerful new diagnostic tool to benefit potentially millions of families, pre- and post-pregnancy."

The context

Autism diagnoses have long been dependent on behavioral assessments that often occur after a child is several years old. MARAbio's innovation changes the landscape by allowing a biological diagnosis before symptoms arise. The discovery of MARA as a specific subtype represents a breakthrough in understanding autism as not just a behavioral condition but one with identifiable biological markers. This insight opens doors to new therapeutic avenues, as MARAbio aims to develop treatments that could neutralize the antibodies causing MARA.

Vincent A. Forlenza, Chairman of MARAbio's Board, captures the significance: "This represents an important inflection point in early detection of this subtype of autism as we prepare to bring MARAbio's science to market."