A First-of-Its-Kind Sensor Measures Cortisol in Real Time

An American startup is presenting human data for the first time on a continuous sensor for the stress hormone | The technology could enable continuous monitoring of the “biological signal” behind diabetes, depression and heart disease (Health) The sensor (Photo: manufacturer) Biotechnology company Adaptyx Biosciences unveiled initial human data for a wearable sensor that measures cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2026), held in New Orleans. It is the first attempt to translate hormonal measurements, which until now have been taken through spot blood tests, into continuous monitoring similar to the revolution brought about by glucose sensors. The skin-mounted sensor is based on DNA molecular switches that respond to the presence of cortisol in interstitial fluid. When the molecules detect the hormone, they generate an electrical signal that is captured and processed into a continuous measurement over hours and days. In its first human trials, the company presented two main protocols. In one trial, participants received hydrocortisone, and the sensor measurements showed strong agreement with venous blood samples tested using standard laboratory methods. In another trial, conducted overnight, the device successfully captured the “cortisol awakening response,” the sharp rise in hormone levels upon waking, along with the nocturnal low, physiological patterns that are usually not measured in single tests. According to the company, more than 400 hours of continuous human monitoring have been collected so far, a figure that provides an initial basis for assessing clinical feasibility. The findings support Adaptyx’s intention to pursue a Class II medical device regulatory pathway with the FDA. The initial applications of the technology are expected to focus on adrenal gland disorders and cardiometabolic diseases, but the company sees much broader potential, including mental health, intensive care, drug development and the consumer wellness market. Company CEO and co-founder Vigit Sabanis described cortisol as an “upstream signal,” an early biological factor that drives a range of chronic conditions. לדבריו, “הרפואה טיפלה עד כה בתוצאות, סוכרת, יתר לחץ דם ו דיכאון, מבלי למדוד באופן רציף את הגורם שמניע רבות מהתגובות הללו”. Adaptyx, which originated at Stanford University, has raised about $23 million so far, including a $14 million round led by Interlagos and participated in by Stanford and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network. The comparison to glucose sensors is no coincidence: if the technology matures, it may mark the beginning of a new era in continuous biochemical monitoring, not only of sugar, but also of hormones and other molecular markers.