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Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Novel T Cell Measurement System by Novoviah Pharmaceuticals Demonstrates High Accuracy for Clinical Disease Detection and Monitoring of Celiac Disease
BRISBANE, Australia, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Novoviah Pharmaceuticals announces that their novel clinical platform technology for detecting and monitoring disease by measuring immune reactivity has been successfully tested in Celiac Disease, with results published in Gastroenterology. The NovoleukinTM test platform, developed specifically for clinical use, measures T Cell reactivity in fresh whole blood after 24-hour in vitro stimulation with a target antigen. The proprietary technology boosts T Cell activity after blood collection, enabling accurate cytokine biomarker measurement and comparison with unstimulated controls. This can be used to monitor disease reactivity status and the effectiveness of prospective therapeutics. Originally developed for multi-center clinical trials, the NovoleukinTM system has potential for broader clinical use. Its utility and performance were demonstrated in collaboration with WEHI researchers who analyzed blood samples from 181 volunteers to identify the presence and assess the severity of celiac disease. The results show high sensitivity (90%) and specificity (95%) in detecting celiac disease, even in patients following a strict gluten free diet which normally confounds traditional diagnostic methods. The test detects as few as one gluten-specific T lymphocyte in one milliliter of blood or one per million CD4+ T cells. This level of sensitivity in a straightforward blood test is a landmark technical achievement and promises to impact patient care in many fields and accelerate immunotherapy and vaccine development. Associate Professor Jason Tye-Din, Head of WEHI's Celiac Research Laboratory and a gastroenterologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, highlighted the test's promise for simplifying diagnosis and removing a significant barrier in current diagnostics. "By stimulating T cells after a blood draw, patients can avoid the need to return to gluten and the suffering that often comes with that – for the sole purpose of diagnosis. That is a major step towards improving outcomes for patients." The test was also predictive of patient responses during gluten challenge protocols, underscoring its utility in stratifying patients for clinical research and tailoring therapeutic strategies. Dr Robert Anderson, co-founder of Novoviah Pharmaceuticals, current President of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease and a practicing gastroenterologist, said the study highlights the potential of practical, blood-based T cell diagnostics in clinic and for clinical trials. "The test is designed for ease of use in the clinical setting. It can be prepared without specialist equipment and then sent for highly sensitive laboratory analysis. The protocol is simple and reproducible enabling easy rollout across multiple sites," Dr Anderson said. The Novoleukin test's ability to detect disease and measure changes in immune response has proven invaluable in the developmental journey for drug developers. "Non-invasively monitoring T cell reactivity opens the door to transformative clinical applications, particularly in drug development," Dr Anderson added. "The platform is already being used by leading biopharma partners to evaluate immune responses during celiac disease clinical trials, offering real-time insights into treatment efficacy." Novoviah is actively expanding the diagnostic applications of the Novoleukin platform across additional immune-mediated diseases, including viral infection, autoimmune conditions and some cancers, aiming to bring T cell-guided insights to clinical and research settings. About Novoviah Pharmaceuticals Novoviah is a Brisbane-based biotechnology company established in 2020 to develop and supply a new best in-class NovoleukinTM antigen-specific T cell testing platform for clinical trials and explore its broader application in clinical care. Novoviah is committed to advancing sensitive and reliable clinical tests for antigen-specific T cells to support drug developers, researchers, clinicians and patients needing better treatments and diagnosis. Find out more at About WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) WEHI is where brilliant minds collaborate and innovate to make life-changing scientific discoveries that help people live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years, making transformative discoveries in cancer, infection and immunity, and lifelong health. WEHI brings together diverse and creative people with different experience and expertise to solve some of the world's most complex health problems. With partners across science, health, government, industry, and philanthropy, we are committed to long-term discovery, collaboration, and translation. At WEHI, we are brighter together. Find out more at View source version on Contacts Novoviah Pharmaceuticalskylieell@ +61413496222 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Duke-NUS and T Cells Diagnostics team up to simplify T-cell analysis
Virus-specific T-cell measurement is made easier to enable better understanding of immune responses in patients and management of human infectious diseases. SINGAPORE, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- T Cell Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("TCD") has licensed an intellectual property (IP) and its related know-how from Duke-NUS Medical School to develop point-of-care assays that could simplify the analysis of T-cell responses. Point-of-care tests can be performed quickly and easily at the site of patient care, such as in clinics or hospitals, without the need of specialised lab equipment. They provide rapid results, helping doctors and researchers make timely decisions. TCD was established in Singapore in 2021 as a spin-off from Duke-NUS by Professor Antonio Bertoletti, Assistant Professors Nina Le Bert and Anthony Tan from Duke-NUS' Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme. Developed based on the licensed IP and its related know-how, TCD's test kits precisely measure the amount of virus-specific T cells in clinical samples by stimulating biological samples—ranging from whole blood to nasal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids—with synthetic peptides. In response to the stimulation, the T cells release chemical signals called cytokines, which can be easily measured. Assistant Professor Nina Le Bert, who is currently applying this technology in her research on samples from patients chronically infected with the Hepatitis B Virus, said: "We are impressed by the simplicity and performance of the test kit, which has allowed the testing of hundreds of patient samples with ease and precision. It is heartening to see that the interest in measuring T-cell responses induced by vaccination or infection is gaining traction as such knowledge empowers healthcare providers and researchers to better understand immune responses in patients, in turn driving innovations to improve patient care." Mr Alessandro Sidoli, CEO of T Cell Diagnostics: "We are confident that the addition of this technology to our portfolio is a major step towards achieving our goal of using T cells as a diagnostic. Our team combines deep scientific expertise with a commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality results, ensuring that our partners can confidently advance their research and clinical goals. Whether you're exploring immune responses to viral infections, vaccination, or even cancer, TCD is your trusted partner in unlocking the power of T cell immunity." TCD offers end-to-end solutions, including project management, expert consultations, and advanced research testing services. The main focus is on analysing virus-specific cellular immune responses, with a particular emphasis on infections such as HBV, HDV, Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and Dengue. By quantifying the number and function of antigen-specific T cells, TCD provides critical insights that can guide diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development. Operating from a state-of-the-art BSL-2 laboratory in Singapore's Biopolis, TCD is strategically positioned to serve local, regional, and international clients. Associate Professor Christopher Laing, Vice-Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Duke-NUS, said: "Innovation in science is not just about discovery—it's about turning knowledge into solutions that improve lives. Duke-NUS scientists are among the most entrepreneurial in Asia, and our culture of innovation is supportive of partnering with startups. Our collaboration with TCD exemplifies Duke-NUS' commitment to bridging academia and industry, accelerating groundbreaking discoveries from universities to patients and society." About Duke-NUS Medical School Duke-NUS is Singapore's flagship graduate entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted 'Clinicians Plus' poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five signature research programmes and 10 centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore's largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has spawned 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Duke-NUS Medical School
