Description du projet
Un diagnostic sensible pour le cancer de la prostate
L’antigène spécifique de la prostate (PSA pour «prostate-specific antigen») est actuellement utilisé comme biomarqueur pour le cancer de la prostate. Toutefois, les tests de PSA manquent de précision diagnostique, car ils présentent un taux élevé de faux positifs, ce qui aboutit à des traitements erronés et à des biopsies de la prostate inutiles. Pour résoudre ce problème, les scientifiques du projet GlyCan, financé par l’UE, ont mis au point un test diagnostique innovant capable de détecter les variations du glycane sur la protéine PSA. Ce test, précis à 86 %, peut faire la différence entre une forme saine et anormale de la protéine. L’approche du projet GlyCan apporte une méthode fiable pour analyser des biomolécules complexes, et son utilisation peut également s’étendre à d’autres maladies.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- 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
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinateur
841 01 Bratislava
Slovaquie
L’entreprise s’est définie comme une PME (petite et moyenne entreprise) au moment de la signature de la convention de subvention.