Octave
Menlo Park, US · 8 known investors
Octave develops blood-based biomarker tests for neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The company's tests enable physicians and patients to measure disease progression and treatment response through blood draws rather than traditional clinical assessments.
Also known as Octave Bioscience · Octave Bioscience, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Investors · 8
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Octave Bioscience is a precision neurology diagnostics company that develops blood-based biomarker tests for neurodegenerative disease. Its commercial product is the Octave Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) Test, a serum assay that measures 18 protein biomarkers spanning four biological pathways and combines them, using machine learning, with a patient's clinical context and data from a large patient database to produce a single disease activity score from 1 to 10. Scores of 1-4 indicate low disease activity, 4.5-7 moderate, and 7.5-10 high; the company positions the test as a complement to MRI rather than a replacement, intended to reveal biological disease activity that may not yet be visible on imaging or in symptoms.
The test is ordered by a prescribing clinician and fulfilled through a blood draw at Quest Diagnostics locations, Any Lab Test Now sites, or other designated phlebotomy sites, with results returned to the ordering provider. The company cites an average turnaround of four business days from sample receipt on its contact page, while its patient page states results are typically ready in 5-7 business days. Testing is performed in a laboratory that is CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited and approved under New York State CLEP. Common testing cadences described include a baseline before starting or switching disease-modifying therapy followed by repeat testing at 3-6 months.
Beyond MS disease activity, Octave lists an MS Disease Progression (MSDP) test and a Parkinson's disease program as in development, and describes ambitions extending to Alzheimer's disease.
Business model
Octave operates as a clinical laboratory diagnostics provider: physicians order the MSDA Test through the company's provider portal or a requisition form, patients have blood drawn at partner or designated draw sites, and results are reported back to the prescriber. The company states it accepts all insurances and offers flexible payment plans plus the Octave Cares financial assistance program for qualifying patients with remaining balances.
Revenue is generated from per-test reimbursement for the MSDA Test; the company states all insurances are accepted, with payment plans and financial assistance available for patient balances.
Traction
As reported on the company website: more than 29,000 scores delivered, more than 500 prescribers, and more than 20,000 patients. Internal utility data cited include clinicians agreeing a single MSDA result informed decisions 60% of the time, longitudinal results informing decisions 69% of the time, and documented treatment decision changes at roughly one in five time points. The test reached availability in all 50 states in 2025.
Latest developments
In 2025 Octave achieved nationwide MSDA Test availability across all 50 states and New York State CLEP certification, published a real-world clinical utility study in Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, received a Valhalla Foundation grant to fund development of the MS Disease Progression (MSDP) Test, and entered a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics to expand access across the United States. An MS disease progression test and a Parkinson's disease test are listed as in development.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Octave markets a commercially available MS blood test with reported adoption of more than 29,000 scores delivered, over 500 prescribers and more than 20,000 patients, nationwide availability across all 50 states as of 2025, and distribution reach via Quest Diagnostics.
The company describes the MSDA Test as the first and only multi-protein blood test designed specifically for MS, contrasting it with single-biomarker approaches and with the standard of care of periodic MRI and clinical assessment, which it characterizes as detecting damage already done. It emphasizes a quantifiable, trackable score for longitudinal monitoring between imaging studies and detection of subclinical activity.
Technology
The MSDA Test is a multi-protein serum assay measuring 18 protein biomarkers across four biological pathways. Machine learning/AI models combine biomarker levels with patient medical history, symptoms and data from thousands of prior patients to output a single 1-10 disease activity score. The assay has published analytical validation (Proteomics Clinical Applications, 2023), clinical validation (Clinical Immunology, 2023), discovery research (Nature Communications, 2024) and a real-world clinical utility study (Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 2025). Testing runs in a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, NY State CLEP-approved laboratory.
Go-to-market
Octave sells through a direct commercial team calling on prescribers (a provider portal, requisition forms, and sales representatives), supported by peer-reviewed publications and real-world evidence from MS centers, patient-facing education materials such as a doctor discussion guide, and patient and clinician advocates. Sample collection reach is provided through a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics covering more than 7,000 draw locations nationwide, plus Any Lab Test Now sites.
Neurologists and other MS-treating healthcare providers who order the test, and people living with multiple sclerosis who are monitored between MRIs and clinic visits. Future programs target patients with MS disease progression, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Geography
Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with the MSDA Test available across all 50 U.S. states and blood collection through more than 7,000 Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide and Any Lab Test Now sites.
History
Octave Bioscience was founded in 2014 in Menlo Park, California. In 2021 it beta-launched the MSDA Test, running its first patient sample and reporting a result to a physician, followed by an expanded commercial launch in 2022. In 2023 the company published analytical validation in Proteomics Clinical Applications and clinical validation in Clinical Immunology, and received a $10 million grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to extend its biomarker work into Parkinson's disease. Discovery research was published in Nature Communications in 2024. In 2025 the MSDA Test reached nationwide availability across all 50 states and earned New York State CLEP certification, a real-world clinical utility study was published, a Valhalla Foundation grant funded development of the MS Disease Progression (MSDP) Test, and a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics expanded access across the United States.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 2
by search overlapCompanies competing with Octave for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsGrant funding development of the Multiple Sclerosis Disease Progression (MSDP) Test.
Collaboration expanding access to the MSDA Test across the United States, with blood draws available at more than 7,000 Quest Diagnostics locations.
Grant extending Octave's biomarker work into Parkinson's disease.
$10M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Octaveoctavebio.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Octave do?
- Octave Bioscience makes blood-based, multi-protein biomarker tests that measure multiple sclerosis disease activity.
- Who founded Octave?
- Octave was founded by William Hagstrom.
- Who are Octave's investors?
- Octave's investors include Northpond Ventures, Sandbox Industries, Section 32, Blue Venture Funds, Echo Health Ventures, Hikma Ventures, Greycroft, Obvious Ventures.
- Where is Octave headquartered?
- Octave is headquartered in Menlo Park, US.