New funding for development of Alzheimer's blood test

Research into a blood test that could potentially diagnose Alzheimer's has been revived, thanks to funding from some of the UK's richest people.

Midlands-based pharmaceutical company Cytox was in the process of developing the ADpredict product when it collapsed in 2011, the Birmingham Post reports.

Now a group of investors, including Jim Mellon - who was ranked 12th on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2012 - have provided £3.5 million to sustain company and its studies for the next two years.

ADpredict identifies cells within the blood to spot the onset of Alzheimer's, even before a patient has begun to display symptoms.

Cytox chief executive Richard Pither said the medical world is excited by the product because it "could fundamentally change" the development of drugs to combat the disease and ensure people receive treatment at the earliest possible stage.

Mr Mellon said: "[Cytox's] approach is unique and is being developed to create a much-needed candidate companion diagnostic to identify Alzheimer's in its early stages."

Find out more about Alzheimer's disease care at Barchester homes.