Yesterday, I shared Why Physicians and Healthcare Providers Make Great Biotech Investors. The takeaway? As a physician, your deep medical and scientific training puts you on the front lines of clinical care, giving you a unique edge in spotting breakthrough developments before they hit the radar.
Here’s a perfect example that proves it. I recently learned from physician colleagues about a major leap forward: the FDA just cleared the first blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics (a subsidiary of H.U. Group). Called the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, this test is the first in-vitro diagnostic tool to measure blood levels of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles—key Alzheimer’s hallmarks—to aid diagnosis. It’s designed for adults aged 55 and older showing signs of this devastating disease.
Dr. Michelle Tarver, Director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said it best: “Nearly 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and that number’s projected to nearly double to 13 million. This clearance is a big step forward, making diagnosis easier and potentially more accessible earlier in the disease.”
You know the deal with Alzheimer’s: a definitive diagnosis only happens after death via brain autopsy to confirm plaques and tangles. For living patients, brain biopsies are off the table—too invasive, too risky, and ethically problematic. Instead, you diagnose “probable Alzheimer’s” using clinical assessments (cognitive tests like MMSE or MoCA, medical history, and symptom evaluation), genetic testing (rarely, for genes like APP, PSEN1, or PSEN2 in familial cases), and biomarker analysis, like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests or neuroimaging.
Neuroimaging, such as amyloid or tau PET scans, spots plaque and tangle buildup, while MRI/CT scans rule out other causes or show brain shrinkage. The catch? These scans are expensive and inconvenient. CSF analysis, which measures amyloid-beta (Aβ42), total tau, and phosphorylated tau, is more precise but invasive, with its own risks. Fujirebio already has an FDA-approved CSF test for Alzheimer’s, but it’s not exactly patient-friendly.
Now, picture this: a blood test—a simple, low-cost, minimally invasive liquid biopsy. In the study that got FDA clearance, the Lumipulse test delivered: 91.7% of patients with positive results had amyloid plaques confirmed by PET or CSF, and 97.3% of those with negative results had no plaques. Only about 20% of the 499 patients tested got an indeterminate result.
With your physician’s eye, you immediately see that 91.7% sensitivity (how well the test catches those with Alzheimer’s) and 97.3% specificity (how well it rules out those without it) are impressive. From med school and your clinical experience, you know a test with over 90% sensitivity is one you’d use in practice.
Your training also tells you Alzheimer’s has few treatment options and, until now, no non-invasive diagnostics. Put it together, and you can see this blood test could transform patient care. That’s the kind of insight that gives you a head start in spotting a biotech opportunity.
Of course, you’d still need to do your homework. Look into the total addressable market for Alzheimer’s, how this test stacks up against competitors, H.U. Group’s financials, valuation, pipeline, and management. Moreover, you’d need to assess the investing risks. For H.U. Group, they are trading Over-The-Counter (OTC) market under the ticker MRCHF which subject the stock to low trading volume and much volatility. But the key? You’ve already got the critical piece: this test is a potential game-changer for Alzheimer’s patients.
At Evergrowth BioHealthcare Capital, we harness insights from physicians like you to catch breakthroughs like this early. By focusing on physician investors and leaders, our hedge fund stays ahead of Wall Street, delivering outsized returns. Our Medical Advisors provide the life-science expertise that keeps us in the lead.
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Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any stock. Always consult your investment advisor and conduct thorough due diligence before making any investment decisions.
Disclosure: Neither I nor Evergrowth BioHealthcare Capital hold shares of MRCHF at the time of this publication. I have no plans to purchase MRCHF within the next three days.