Descripción del proyecto
Un diagnóstico sensible para el cáncer de próstata
Actualmente se utiliza el antígeno prostático específico (APE) como biomarcador del cáncer de próstata. Sin embargo, las pruebas de APE carecen de precisión diagnóstica, ya que arrojan una alta tasa de falsos positivos, lo que da lugar a tratamientos erróneos y a biopsias de próstata innecesarias. Para abordar este problema, los científicos del proyecto GlyCan, financiado con fondos europeos, han desarrollado un ensayo diagnóstico innovador, que permite detectar los cambios del glicano en la proteína APE. La prueba ofrece una precisión del 86 % y puede discriminar entre la forma saludable de la proteína y la anómala. El enfoque del proyecto GlyCan proporciona un método fiable para analizar biomoléculas complejas, cuyo uso podría hacerse extensivo a otras enfermedades.
Objetivo
Worldwide, there are 1.6M new prostate cancer (PCa) cases with 366k deaths annually. Novel PCa biomarkers are needed since the best current PCa biomarker (prostate specific antigen (PSA)) lacks PCa diagnostic accuracy often resulting in mistreatment of PCa patients. The false-positive rate of PSA in blood serum is ~75%. PSA test is applied together with digital rectal examination (DRE) for preliminary screening. If the combined results are suspicious, the patients undergo a biopsy to confirm PCa. Yet, there are 74% of needless biopsies representing a significant pain for PCa patients and societal/economic burden.
Based on a great commercial outcome from the ERC grant (311532) granted to Dr. Jan Tkac (co-founder/CSO of Glycanostics), the company has developed an innovative, non-invasive, early PCa diagnostics using blood serum. Instead of quantifying PSA, the innovative PCa diagnostic assay detect glycan changes on PSA protein (it discriminates between “healthy” PSA and “sick” PSA and accurately quantify the clinically relevant “sick” PSA). The technology is covered by two EPO patent applications owned by the company. The PCa diagnostic test with 95% accuracy will be applied as a 2nd opinion test in case of suspicious results from PSA & DRE examinations prior sending to a biopsy. PCa DX kit will be launched for clinics/hospital & cancer centres (B2B) and Prostate check home test for user-friendly application at homes (B2C).
Our PCa diagnostic technology is unique compared to our competitors focusing on analysis of other complex biomolecules such as a level of proteins, mRNA and circulating DNA. Moreover, we have competitive advantage over competitors in terms of cost per sample, assay accuracy, simplicity of the assay enabling the home testing and high-throughput.
Glycanostics consists of 7 core team members, 4 business and 4 scientific advisors making a great and highly experienced team that will bring these innovative PCa early diagnostic products to the market.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyprostate cancer
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringmedical laboratory technologydiagnostic technologies
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1
Régimen de financiación
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinador
841 01 Bratislava
Eslovaquia
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.