RE: Prostate cancer test market should be in 2023 approx 8.5B USD27 Sep 2023 10:30
OBD has previously highlighted its extensive pipeline of deployable molecular tests, in several disease areas, indicating that the most likely prospects for subsequent product development are in prostate and colorectal cancer screening, and canine lymphoma. This remains the case and we have been proceeding with internal and collaborative R&D work in these areas.
In prostate cancer, for example, OBD is involved in a Prostate Cancer Research-funded project to develop a test to aid detection of prostate cancer in black men, who suffer both increased prevalence of, and mortality from, this disease compared to other groups.
This work, carried out in conjunction with University of East Anglia (UEA) and Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust builds on OBD's successful participation in the PROSTAGRAM trial. A forthcoming paper jointly written by OBD with Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London; School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich; and King's Clinical Trials Unit, King's College London, entitled "Circulating chromosome conformation signatures significantly enhance PSA positive predicting value and overall accuracy for prostate cancer detection" sets out the exciting results of OBD's participation in the PROSTAGRAM trial.
While prostate cancer has a high lifetime prevalence (1 in 6 men), there is no generally accepted screening programme. The widely-used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test does not have sufficient accuracy, resulting in numerous unnecessary biopsies and false reassurances. EpiSwitch® results from the PROSTAGRAM trial demonstrate that combining a standard PSA readout with non-invasive EpiSwitch biomarkers in a Prostate Screening EpiSwitch (or "PSE") test results in significantly enhanced positive predictive value (PPV) and overall accuracy for prostate cancer detection, compared to the current PSA test.
The Group will continue to prepare for the development and launch of subsequent commercial products. Whilst we will be ready to respond quickly to opportunities for commercialization in these areas, our plan is for the primary application of the Group's existing resources through 2023 to be in support of our flagship EpiSwitch® CiRT product.