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ABOUT US | TESTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Tests Under Development

Play! Professor John Robertson’s future directions of EarlyCDT

Oncimmune has an exclusive and ground-breaking blood test that aids in the early detection of cancers (much earlier than current screening methods such as mammography, CT, etc.) by recognizing tumor-associated autoantibodies. The technology provides a significant advantage in how early a cancer may be detected, which is likely to radically change the current paradigm of diagnosis and treatment for most solid cancers (e.g., lung, breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, pancreatic, etc.). Research has also shown that different types of tumors give rise to unique autoantibodies and that the pattern of autoantibodies will also provide biological information as well as aid earlier detection. In addition, the autoantibody test is performed on a blood (serum) sample, making it realistically accessible to low and middle income countries, regions where over half the cancers will be diagnosed by 2030. It is anticipated that over the next few years, this technology will significantly improve the prognosis for those with solid cancers.

Oncimmune has developed a semi-automated robotic assay platform to measure the immune system’s antibody response to cancer. These antibodies are produced in response to a patient’s own cancer and have, therefore, been called autoantibodies or immuno-biomarkers. Oncimmune has combined development of the robotic assay platform with new production methods to produce immunogenic proteins designed to replicate the cancer proteins that trigger the body’s autoantibody response. It is the combination of the robotic technology, specialized assay procedures, proprietary protein production and Oncimmune’s patent portfolio that secures the company its exclusive position in this key medical area.

Oncimmune plans to adapt this technology to the development of blood tests for a variety of solid tumor cancers. The next test to follow EarlyCDT–Lung™ to the market will be a blood test to aid in early detection of breast cancer. The EarlyCDT–Breast test is in advanced stages of development and will be launched in 2011. The company estimates about 10% of the total population screened with mammography would be classified as high-risk, and for these women an EarlyCDT–Breast test would be cost-effective. This percentage equates to about 7 million women. The demographics of this population are very favorable for on-going health monitoring, which includes early detection tests for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Time Line

Breast cancer already has a history of established screening methods, either with mammography or more recently with MRI for individuals with a known mutation in one of the two BRCA genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2). However, as with all other solid tumor cancers, the formation of a tumor occurs long before it can be identified with current diagnostic methodologies. Even mammographic screening identifies breast cancers long after tumour initiation (in some cases years later); at this stage for many patients, metastasis may have already occurred (tumor cells spread to other parts of the body), and the metastasis may have subsequently presented clinically, which often leads to patient death. Although mammography has been shown to be a positive health intervention, it only saves one in five women ages 50-70 years who would have died from breast cancer if they had not undergone screening; therefore, there is a need to identify breast cancers earlier when they can be cured by local treatments and before they have spread. This is also true of all other solid tumors.

In addition to the EarlyCDT–Breast test, the company has also completed proof-of-principle studies on other tumor types (e.g., ovarian, esophago-gastric, colon and liver cancers) and plans to start validation of tests for these other types of cancer over the next two years. Solid cancers account for 70% of all cancers, and the company expects they will be able to provide tests for approximately 90% of all tumor cancers in coming years.

To hear more about Future Directions for EarlyCDT from Professor John Robertson click here.

Cancer Detection Grant Support

The Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer (CEAC) at the University of Nottingham (UK), led by Professor John Robertson, is a “not for profit” academic centre of excellence that has been granted unique access to Oncimmune’s technology. CEAC will collaborate with academic institutions to conduct research related to early stage cancer.

To drive forward this type of investigative research, CEAC will be funded by grant, charitable and private funding in addition to that already committed by Oncimmune and the University of Nottingham. If you are interested in any further information on CEAC including becoming a CEAC partner, please contact us.