Latest news with #biomarker
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
M42, AstraZeneca, SOPHiA GENETICS to transform cancer diagnosis, care
M42, a global health leader powered by technology, announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS to bring cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to the UAE, aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis, informing treatment decisions, and enabling faster, accurate biomarker testing across a broad range of cancers. As part of the collaboration, M42 will integrate SOPHiA GENETICS' MSK-ACCESS®, powered with SOPHiA DDM™ technology, into its testing infrastructure, enabling non-invasive genomic profiling of cancers through a simple blood draw. This approach does not replace but rather complements routine cancer screenings and is designed for patients who are unable to undergo a solid tumor biopsy, enabling them to be matched with a precision therapy tailored to their specific cancer profile. Over the next 12 months, the partnership will enable liquid biopsy testing access across select leading hospitals across the UAE, providing patients with faster, less invasive biomarker insights compared to traditional tissue biopsies, while also strengthening testing infrastructure and capabilities for a wide range of cancers in the UAE. The new testing programme will initially target lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others, addressing some of the most critical cancer burdens in the region. Validation studies are set to commence shortly at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone toward the full clinical launch planned for the latter part of Q2 2025. Albarah El-khani, Senior Vice President, Operations, Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said, 'This collaboration reflects our vision of democratising health by making advanced diagnostics accessible to more patients, supporting not just early diagnosis but also real-time treatment monitoring and cost-effective, precise, predictive, and personalized care.' Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC of AstraZeneca, stated, "Our work, and our collaborations with partners across industry, are driving towards better treatments for patients as well as a more sustainable future for healthcare systems. Through our latest partnerships, we are committed to transforming cancer care for millions in the region by advancing early diagnosis and optimising patient pathways from detection to therapy.' Ross Muken, President of SOPHiA GENETICS, said, "Expanding access to advanced testing technologies is central to our mission at SOPHiA GENETICS. Partnering with M42 and AstraZeneca in the UAE allows us to equip healthcare providers with the tools they need to personalise care, monitor disease in real-time, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients across the region."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New DiviTum(R) TKa Data to be Presented at ASCO in Three Cancer Types
UPPSALA, SE / / May 23, 2025 / Biovica International (STO:BIOVIC-B)(STO:BIOVIC.B)(FRA:9II) - Biovica, active in cancer monitoring, today announces that three abstracts based on studies using the blood test DiviTum TKa will be presented at the world's largest cancer meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 30 - June 3, 2025. ASCO is the world's largest and most influential oncology conference, bringing together approximately 31,000 oncology professionals. The new data further validates DiviTum TKa as a predictive biomarker across three cancer indications: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors in the high-profile PEARL study BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) Ovarian cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy While the PEARL study represents a large-scale trial that addresses a key clinical decision-making challenge in MBC - whether to select newer versus established treatment combinations - the studies in melanoma and ovarian cancer are more exploratory in nature. " It is exciting that DiviTum TKa will be presented to such a large audience as a predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection in MBC, malignant melanoma , and ovarian cancer, thereby significantly extending the number of patients who can benefit from DiviTum TKa. Equally exciting, that DiviTum TKa can also predict outcomes for patients receiving the new generation Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for malignant melanoma," said Anders Rylander, CEO of Biovica. Thank you to the long list of partners in eight European countries, who have contributed to bringing about new knowledge. More about the Abstract Title Institution Patient Population Key Findings "Thymidine kinase activity (TKa) as independent predictor of outcome in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in theGEICAM/2013-02 PEARL trial: A predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + Palbociclib in MBC" GEICAM, Spain Treatment for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with early (≤12 months) progression. TKa can predict for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + Palbociclib CT vs a CDK4/6 inhibitor influence TKa response differently, and the direction and magnitude of the TKa response can predict for benefit to a specific original PEARL study analysis showed no outcome differences between Cape vs ET + Palbo in HR+/HER2- MBC pts, however assessment of TKa before and during therapy identified which patients had the highest probability of responding. "Serum Thymidine Kinase Activity (TKa) as a Potential Biomarker in the Sequential Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Metastatic BRAF V600 Mutated Melanoma (SECOMBIT) trial" 30 centers in: Austria, France Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland BRAF V600 mutatedmetastatic melanoma TKa can predict patient outcome inBRAF V600 mutated metastatic melanomaPatients with elevated TKa is an evident poor prognosis study to evaluate the role of TKa as a biomarker in a prospective clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma. "Thymidine kinase activity as a prognostic and predictive tool in blood samples from primary ovarian cancer patients" University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany Ovarian Cancer Baseline TKa levels in both serum and plasma significantly correlated with OS and DFS, which identifies circulating TKa as a promising prognostic marker in OC. It might further serve as a predictive marker for response to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, prospective validation of these results is needed in order to further specify the clinical value of TKa. List of abbreviationsBC Breast CancerBL Base Line - prior to treatmentBRAF V600 BRAF is a human gene responsible for producing the protein B-Raf, which is involved in signaling direct cell growth. The V600E mutation describes an amino acid substitution at position 600 in BRAF from a valine (V) to a glutamic acid (E)CDK4/6i CDK4/6 inhibitor treatmentsDFS Disease-Free SurvivalHER2 Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2HR Hormone receptorHR+ Hormone receptor-positiveMBC Metastatic Breast CancerOS Overall SurvivalPts PatientsTKa Thymidine Kinase activity Contact Anders Rylander, CEOPhone: +46 76 666 16 47E-mail: Anders Morén, CFOPhone: +46 73 125 92 46E-mail: Biovica - Treatment decisions with greater confidence Biovica develops and commercializes blood-based biomarker assays that help oncologists monitor cancer progression. Biovica's assay, DiviTum® TKa, measures cell proliferation by detecting the TKa biomarker in the bloodstream. The assay has demonstrated its ability to provide insight to therapy effectiveness in several clinical trials. The first application for the DiviTum® TKa test is treatment monitoring of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Biovica's vision is: "Improved care for cancer patients." Biovica collaborates with world-leading cancer institutes and pharmaceutical companies. DiviTum® TKa has received FDA 510(k) clearance in the US and is CE-marked in the EU. Biovica's shares are traded on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (BIOVIC B). FNCA Sweden AB is the company's Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit: Attachments New DiviTum® TKa data to be presented at ASCO in three cancer types SOURCE: Biovica International View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New DiviTum(R) TKa Data to be Presented at ASCO in Three Cancer Types
UPPSALA, SE / / May 23, 2025 / Biovica International (STO:BIOVIC-B)(STO:BIOVIC.B)(FRA:9II) - Biovica, active in cancer monitoring, today announces that three abstracts based on studies using the blood test DiviTum TKa will be presented at the world's largest cancer meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 30 - June 3, 2025. ASCO is the world's largest and most influential oncology conference, bringing together approximately 31,000 oncology professionals. The new data further validates DiviTum TKa as a predictive biomarker across three cancer indications: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors in the high-profile PEARL study BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) Ovarian cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy While the PEARL study represents a large-scale trial that addresses a key clinical decision-making challenge in MBC - whether to select newer versus established treatment combinations - the studies in melanoma and ovarian cancer are more exploratory in nature. " It is exciting that DiviTum TKa will be presented to such a large audience as a predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection in MBC, malignant melanoma , and ovarian cancer, thereby significantly extending the number of patients who can benefit from DiviTum TKa. Equally exciting, that DiviTum TKa can also predict outcomes for patients receiving the new generation Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for malignant melanoma," said Anders Rylander, CEO of Biovica. Thank you to the long list of partners in eight European countries, who have contributed to bringing about new knowledge. More about the Abstract Title Institution Patient Population Key Findings "Thymidine kinase activity (TKa) as independent predictor of outcome in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in theGEICAM/2013-02 PEARL trial: A predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + Palbociclib in MBC" GEICAM, Spain Treatment for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with early (≤12 months) progression. TKa can predict for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + Palbociclib CT vs a CDK4/6 inhibitor influence TKa response differently, and the direction and magnitude of the TKa response can predict for benefit to a specific original PEARL study analysis showed no outcome differences between Cape vs ET + Palbo in HR+/HER2- MBC pts, however assessment of TKa before and during therapy identified which patients had the highest probability of responding. "Serum Thymidine Kinase Activity (TKa) as a Potential Biomarker in the Sequential Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Metastatic BRAF V600 Mutated Melanoma (SECOMBIT) trial" 30 centers in: Austria, France Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland BRAF V600 mutatedmetastatic melanoma TKa can predict patient outcome inBRAF V600 mutated metastatic melanomaPatients with elevated TKa is an evident poor prognosis study to evaluate the role of TKa as a biomarker in a prospective clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma. "Thymidine kinase activity as a prognostic and predictive tool in blood samples from primary ovarian cancer patients" University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany Ovarian Cancer Baseline TKa levels in both serum and plasma significantly correlated with OS and DFS, which identifies circulating TKa as a promising prognostic marker in OC. It might further serve as a predictive marker for response to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, prospective validation of these results is needed in order to further specify the clinical value of TKa. List of abbreviationsBC Breast CancerBL Base Line - prior to treatmentBRAF V600 BRAF is a human gene responsible for producing the protein B-Raf, which is involved in signaling direct cell growth. The V600E mutation describes an amino acid substitution at position 600 in BRAF from a valine (V) to a glutamic acid (E)CDK4/6i CDK4/6 inhibitor treatmentsDFS Disease-Free SurvivalHER2 Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2HR Hormone receptorHR+ Hormone receptor-positiveMBC Metastatic Breast CancerOS Overall SurvivalPts PatientsTKa Thymidine Kinase activity Contact Anders Rylander, CEOPhone: +46 76 666 16 47E-mail: Anders Morén, CFOPhone: +46 73 125 92 46E-mail: Biovica - Treatment decisions with greater confidence Biovica develops and commercializes blood-based biomarker assays that help oncologists monitor cancer progression. Biovica's assay, DiviTum® TKa, measures cell proliferation by detecting the TKa biomarker in the bloodstream. The assay has demonstrated its ability to provide insight to therapy effectiveness in several clinical trials. The first application for the DiviTum® TKa test is treatment monitoring of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Biovica's vision is: "Improved care for cancer patients." Biovica collaborates with world-leading cancer institutes and pharmaceutical companies. DiviTum® TKa has received FDA 510(k) clearance in the US and is CE-marked in the EU. Biovica's shares are traded on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (BIOVIC B). FNCA Sweden AB is the company's Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit: Attachments New DiviTum® TKa data to be presented at ASCO in three cancer types SOURCE: Biovica International View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire 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
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
/U P D A T E -- Cizzle Bio/
In the news release, ASCO Study Abstract Shows Cizzle Bio's CIZ1B Biomarker Test for Lung Cancer Could Save $518M in Annual Medicare Costs, issued 22-May-2025 by Cizzle Bio over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company of an update to the release. The complete, updated release with a direct link to the abstract follows: CHICAGO, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cizzle Bio, Inc. announced today the online publication of a new study abstract in conjunction with the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, projecting that its proprietary CIZ1B biomarker blood test for early-stage lung cancer could save the U.S. Medicare program up to $518 million annually. Co-authored by healthcare economist Jennifer Hinkel, the study models how integrating CIZ1B into lung cancer screening for high-risk Medicare populations could lower healthcare costs, reduce unnecessary procedures, and increase early-stage lung cancer detection. Breakthrough Blood Test Expands Access and Reduces Costs The CIZ1B biomarker test was developed from more than 30 years of research into the CIZ1 gene at the University of York, identifying the CIZ1B protein variant and its strong association with early-stage lung cancer. With 95% sensitivity for Stage I detection and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) at 96%, the test can detect lung cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. Cizzle Bio is preparing for the commercial launch of CIZ1B in U.S. clinical environments in the coming months. "Our economic models project that the CIZ1B test has the potential to be not only a clinical advance but a significant economic win for the healthcare system when implemented as part of lung cancer screening in high-risk, eligible Medicare populations," said Hinkel, a researcher in health economics and oncology outcomes. "By enabling earlier diagnoses and early intervention with less costly treatment, CIZ1B has the potential to make lung cancer screening more accurate, accessible, and sustainable, especially for Medicare patients." Improves Lung Cancer Screening with Economic Impact While low-dose CT (LDCT) is a clinically recommended method for lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals (such as those with a significant smoking history), only 4% to 6% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries undergo the procedure. The new study demonstrates that incorporating the CIZ1B biomarker blood test into lung cancer screening protocols could significantly reduce both the financial and clinical burdens currently associated with using LDCT alone. The model hypothesized that introduction of a blood-based biomarker test such as CIZ1B would enable a 15% increase in lung cancer screening participation among Medicare-eligible high-risk individuals by reducing access barriers associated with LDCT screening including travel, availability, and radiation exposure concerns. The study modeled that this expanded access could identify many more lung cancer cases at an earlier stage, especially in underserved populations, than screening with LDCT alone at the current participation rates. "Greater participation in screening programs is critical to shifting lung cancer diagnoses to earlier, more treatable stages," added Hinkel. "We have been challenged to move the needle on screening rates solely through education of clinicians and patients, and we know that barriers such as travel time to reach a CT scan appointment, or fear of extra radiation exposure and the risk of a biopsy procedure, can discourage patients from participating—even when there is so much benefit to catching cancer early. Because it is a simple blood test, CIZ1B testing can reach more patients where they are. Implementing cancer screening through a blood test like this can drive a real change toward better outcomes and lower costs in Medicare patients, which is very meaningful." As a significant component of saving costs, the model projects that CIZ1B biomarker testing can reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies by improving screening specificity, or reducing false positives. LDCT often detects nodules that are visually suspicious, requiring a follow-up biopsy procedure, even though 96% of these procedures are on nodules that are found to be non-cancerous. Avoiding these invasive procedures not only reduces direct healthcare costs but also minimizes patient anxiety and complications. "This publication is a significant milestone for Cizzle Bio," said Bill Behnke, founder and chief executive officer of Cizzle Bio. "Our mission is to make early lung cancer detection easier, more accurate, and more widely accessible. These findings strengthen the case for CIZ1B as a cornerstone of the future lung cancer screening paradigm." The abstract is available online in conjunction with the ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting and can be accessed via About Cizzle Bio, Inc. Cizzle Bio is a Texas-based biotechnology company dedicated to revolutionizing cancer diagnostics by pioneering biomarker-based blood tests, starting with early detection of lung and gastric cancer. Our goal is to empower patients, equip clinicians, and improve outcomes through innovation, compassion, and life-saving solutions. We hold exclusive licensing rights for our groundbreaking CIZ1B biomarker test in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean and a worldwide exclusive license for our DEX-G2 biomarker gastric cancer test. Cizzle Bio is commercializing both tests for U.S. clinical environments, with CIZ1B set to launch in the coming months and DEX-G2 following later this Media Contact:Yolanda Heibergeryolanda@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cizzle Bio 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
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
New device developed by University of Chicago scientists could find medical answers without blood tests
A lot of people don't like getting their blood drawn, but it is often the only way to obtain medical answers. But scientists at the University of Chicago have developed a device that could obtain medical results without needles. The device is called the airborne biomarker localization engine, or ABLE. Researchers say the device could detect airborne viruses or bacteria in hospitals or public spaces — and thus improve neonatal care, or allow people with diabetes to get a reading on their blood glucose levels just with their breath rather than a finger stick. Professor Bozhi Tian of the University of Chicago explained that the ABLE works through the simple process of changing the state of matter. For generations, the best way to detect molecules has been through liquids such as blood — and even rapid COVID tests involve using droplets of liquid. Looking for particles in the air is much harder because they're so diffuse, but the ABLE has a solution for that, Tian said. "So imagine you have very diluted molecules in air that regular sensors find hard to detect because they are too thinly spread," he said. "Now our device, our ABLE device, solves this problem by cooling the air to turn water vapor into droplets — like how dew forms on a cold window. So this process collects and also concentrates these airborne molecules into the water droplets, making them easier to detect with simple tests, or sensors that are already available, such as the color-changing strips." The new device created by scientists at the University of Chicago to detect molecules in air samples. The technology could one day be used to diagnose a wide array of diseases. Bozhi Tian Tian said the device uses a special water-repellent, or superhydrophobic, surface so the droplets can bounce and be collected. "This can increase the sensitivity by thousands to millions of times compared to the regular gas sensors," he said. Tian said he was first inspired to get started on the project when he visited the Stephen Family Neonatal Intensive Care unit at UChicago's Comer Children's Hospital right after the COVID pandemic. He said he thought, "After seeing those preterm babies struggling, I started to ask myself, as a material scientist, can I actually design some gentle and no-contact sensors to monitor the health — without adding stress or discomfort to the preterm infants?" Tian said he was also inspired by some examples in nature of organisms that use a water-repellent surface to capture liquid from the environment. "For example, some desert beetles, they actually survive by capturing some tiny droplets of moisture from fog — utilizing their very unique and highly water-repellent surface," he said. "Now, another example could be a lotus leaf. The lotus leaves remain clean and also dry, despite this constant exposure to water. And this is because of remarkable super-hydrophobic textures Now, inspired by those ingenious biological designs, we adopted the concept of the superhydrophobic surface to have this condensation system for sensors." Researchers hope the ABLE can optimize care for premature infants without blood tests or other invasive means. There could be numerous other uses, but UChicago noted that the ability to detect airborne molecules in this fashion is so new that scientists don't yet know what molecules they should be looking for. The group is now working with a doctor who treats inflammatory bowel disease, UChicago said. IBD patients may have markers of inflammation in their breath that the ABLE could detect. Mechanical engineer Jingcheng Ma, an assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame who worked on the study, also noted that implications of the ABLE when it comes to revealing new principles of physics. "This work might start many new studies on how these airborne impurities affects phase change behaviors, for example, and the new physics can be used for many applications," Ma said in a UChicago News story by Louise Lerner. The co-authors of the study on the ABLE also included UChicago scientists Megan Laune, Pengju Li, Jing Lu, Jiping Yue, Yueyue Yu, Jessica Cleary, Kaitlyn Oliphant, and Zachary Kessler.
