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Amprion Inc.

Amprion is a San Diego diagnostics company that began with prion detection and now sells a seed amplification test for misfolded alpha-synuclein, not for prions. Its name comes from amplifying prions, and its co-founder Claudio Soto is the source of much of the PMCA work used in prion research. On every page opened, it offers no prion test, so it is not a testing route for CJD or genetic prion disease today. Its relevance is that it holds or has licensed some of the underlying technology and runs a working clinical model for this kind of test.

Key facts

  • Amprion's site lists one test, SAAmplify-aSYN Plus on cerebrospinal fluid, and does not mention prion or CJD.
  • The company says Soto and Russ Lebovitz started on prion detection for CJD in 2007, moved on from 2010 as the CJD threat faded, and founded Amprion in 2014.
  • Of nine patent titles it lists, one is prion specific: quantitative PMCA for estimating prion concentration, US 10,215,763.
  • A 2023 paper states that UTHealth Houston has licensed patents and applications to Amprion, and that Soto is its founder, chief scientific officer and a board member.
  • A 2018 paper states that an RT-QuIC patent held by Byron Caughey has been licensed by Amprion; the scope is not given.
  • The alpha-synuclein test must be ordered by a physician, needs 1 mL of CSF, and reports within 15 business days from a CLIA and CAP laboratory.
  • Amprion is not yet in network with private insurers and offers courtesy billing, self-pay and financial assistance.
  • The September 2026 release calls the test a Laboratory Developed Test and cites partnerships in Australia and Europe, without mentioning prions.
  • Search excerpts say Mayo Clinic Laboratories offers the alpha-synuclein test to its clients under a collaboration; the page itself could not be opened.

Timeline

  1. 2007Soto and Lebovitz begin work on prion detection linked to CJD.
  2. 2010Team moves towards other misfolded protein diseases.
  3. 2014Amprion founded.
  4. 2018Clinical laboratory established.
  5. 2019FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for misfolded alpha-synuclein detection.
  6. 2022Laboratory becomes CAP accredited and CLIA certified.
  7. 2026SAAmplify-aSYN Plus released.
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