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A revolutionary blood test to easily diagnose and prevent deadly complications of organs and tissue transplants.

Project description

Testing for GVHD before it’s too late

Associated with morbidity and mortality, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication commonly observed after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCT) in patients with diseases such as blood cancer. Unfortunately, GVHD can only be suspected after clinical symptoms appear, and by then it is already at an advanced state. The EU-funded IRIS Phase-1 project is developing a new way to detect GVHD before it’s too late. It has linked the enzyme GSK-3beta to the onset of GVHD, specifically to the proliferation of donor’s T-cells that attack the host. Instead of biopsy, results can be obtained in a laboratory using a standard fluorescence scanner. The project will validate the diagnostic kit and establish a go-to-market strategy.

Objective

Transplantations are life-saving treatments, often representing the only option for people with severe disease such as blood
cancers. Unfortunately, complications linked to transplants are so high that they are current limiting the increase of adoption
of transplantations. Specifically, Graft versus Host Disease occurs in up to 80% cases after receiving bone marrow from a
donour and poses a serious threat to the life of patients already in critical condition. Graft versus Host Disease, today, can
only be suspected when it is already at an advanced state, i.e. when clinical symptoms appear. However, symptoms are not
unique, thus invasive biopsies are needed for a certain diagnosis. At this stage, even more time has been wasted before
starting an effective drug treatment: the mortality risk can reach 95%, the hospitalization period lasts months instead than
weeks and so drug treatments, that have to be stronger and more aggressive. MarxBio for the first time in the world was able
to link a particular enzyme called GSK-3beta to the onset of Graft versus Host Disease and, specifically, to the proliferation
of donor’s T-cells that attack the host. The Company has the unique knowhow to monitor the complex pathways of
GSK-3beta to diagnose and monitor the progression of the disease, through the use of tens of different, specific antibodies.
All of this know-how has been enclosed in a disposable protein chip, so a simple blood test, instead of a biopsy, is required
to detect the disease: results can be obtained in every laboratory, with the use of a standard fluorescence scanner. Scientific
results have been published and intellectual property has been protected with a patent portfolio. During Phase 1 project the
Company will assess the scale-up plan and the clinical trials to be conducted to validate the diagnostic kit, and will establish
a sound go-to-market strategy to ensure a swift market uptake of the proposed solution.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

MARX BIOTECHNOLOGY LTD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
MA'AVAR HAMITLA 3
9776106 Jerusalem
Israel

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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