Siemens Healthineers bets on Alzheimer's blood tests amid financial strain and restructuring

Siemens Healthineers is pushing ahead with new Alzheimer's blood tests while facing financial pressures and a major restructuring. The company has unveiled two research-focused assays, pTau217 and BDTau, designed to offer less invasive alternatives to traditional lumbar punctures. Meanwhile, its parent company, Siemens, plans to reduce its stake, marking a shift in ownership by early 2026.

The latest developments come as Siemens Healthineers expands its neurology portfolio. Its new pTau217 and BDTau assays, launched in 2023, run on the existing Atellica analyser platform, allowing labs to integrate them without new equipment. Both tests remain restricted to research use, with ongoing studies at centres like PREDICTOM and Banner Sun Health Research Institute. A CE-marked neurofilament light chain assay for multiple sclerosis risk prediction is already available, while an ApoE-ε4 test—linked to Alzheimer's and cardiovascular risks—is still in development.

Financially, the company reported mixed results for the first quarter of 2026. Revenue grew by 3.8 percent, but adjusted earnings per share dropped by 3 percent to €0.49. The diagnostics division, weakened by a slowdown in China, saw a 3 percent decline. Despite these challenges, Siemens Healthineers maintained its full-year forecast, projecting comparable revenue growth of 5 to 6 percent and earnings per share between €2.20 and €2.40. However, it warned of a potential €500 million hit from negative tariffs. Ownership changes are also on the horizon. Siemens plans to distribute 30 percent of Healthineers' shares directly to its own shareholders, effectively ending its majority stake. Further details are expected in early Q2 2026. The move follows a difficult year for the company's stock, which has lost roughly 28 percent of its value over the past twelve months.

The success of Siemens Healthineers' brain health portfolio will depend on transitioning its research assays into clinical practice. With nearly 10 million new dementia cases diagnosed globally each year, the long-term demand for neurology tools remains strong. However, the company must navigate ongoing financial pressures, a shrinking diagnostics division, and the upcoming spin-off to turn market potential into revenue.