Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced it has been 510k cleared, following US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, to market its Optilite® Freelite® assays’ claim for the evaluation of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

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Alongside other laboratory tests, Freelite assays are used as part of a workflow for diagnosing and monitoring monoclonal gammopathies. (Photo: Business Wire)

MGUS affects an estimated 3% of the U.S. population over 50 and is a lifelong condition where abnormal monoclonal proteins are found in a patient’s blood.¹ Once identified, it is important to continually evaluate the monoclonal protein, including serum free light chain serum concentrations as, rarely, the disorder progresses to Multiple Myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies such as light chain amyloidosis or lymphoproliferative disorders such as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.²

Alongside other laboratory tests, Freelite assays are used as part of a workflow for diagnosing and monitoring monoclonal gammopathies. The assays provide healthcare professionals with a highly sensitive and accurate way to measure kappa and lambda free light chains (FLC) in serum, enabling the identification of even small concentrations of monoclonal FLC proteins in patients undetectable by serum protein electrophoresis.

“Our easy-to-use Freelite assays are trusted by healthcare professionals globally, and with the new claim, and as a key part of laboratory diagnostics tools, we can help healthcare providers continually evaluate patients with MGUS, which is important to understand the disorder and the progression to pathological malignancies,” said Hamid Erfanian, Vice President and General Manager, Protein Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Earlier identification of MGUS will enable more effective monitoring of disease progression and need for treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”

Freelite assays previously received 510k clearance, following US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, for the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple myeloma, lymphocytic neoplasms, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, AL amyloidosis, light chain deposition disease and connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These assays were the first commercially available FLC tests and are currently the test of choice in over 1,000 laboratories worldwide, including some of the largest multiple myeloma centers.

In 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific completed the acquisition of The Binding Site, adding protein diagnostics solutions, including diagnosis and monitoring for monoclonal gammopathies, to its specialty diagnostics portfolio. Attendees of the Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Annual Meeting, taking place from July 28 to August 1, 2024 in Chicago, Ill., can learn more about how Freelite can help support their laboratories in Thermo Fisher’s booth (#2213).

To learn more about the Binding Site Freelite assays, please visit our website here.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue over $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit https://www.thermofisher.com/.

References

1. Kyle, R.A., et al., Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. N Engl J Med, 2006. 354(13): p. 1362-1369.
2. Rajkumar, S.V., et al., International Myeloma Working Group updated criteria for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Lancet Oncol., 2014. 15: p. e538-e548. 

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