TapImmune signs Licensing Option agreement with Mayo Clinic for breast cancer vaccine technology
February 18, 2016
The first early cancer detection test (EarlyCDT-) to launch will be the test for lung cancer (EarlyCDT-Lung) which has the potential to detect the early stages of lung cancer possibly up to five years before a tumour appears. The target population for this test are high-risk individuals such as long-term smokers and ex-smokers between the ages of 40 and 75. Additionally the test would be appropriate for people who have been exposed to other risk factors associated with the disease, for instance, environmental exposures such as radon, asbestos and extensive exposure to secondary smoke.
Under the guidance of Professor Robertson, The University of Nottingham has become a world leader in the field of autoimmunity in cancer. Using the technology developed by Oncimmune there is, for the first time, a reliable platform available for testing the autoimmune response to cancer and further research will allow validation of the test in other tumour areas such as lung, colon and ovarian cancer.
To support this, the University is to establish a Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer (CEAC) with Professor Robertson as the Director of Research. The new centre will foster collaborative research to: speed up the delivery of an autoantibody blood test for different types of cancer for clinical use; encourage other research in the area of autoimmunity in cancer; and continue the search for support technologies that have the potential to enhance the medical prognosis following a positive test result.
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham said: "The establishment of CEAC will provide state-of-the-art technologies to continue world leading research and development in the early detection of cancer using autoantibodies. The new centre will house a multi disciplinary research team working in partnership with international collaborators and Oncimmune. The research will provide additional test systems for the early diagnosis of a wide range of cancers which will have considerable impact within clinical medicine. The group's discovery science which has led to a novel set of biomarkers is providing new insights into the biology of cancer. Their basic, translational and clinical research is likely to contribute to a positive paradigm shift in our understanding of the early phases of cancer cell development as well as enhancement of the medical management of a wide range of cancer types."
Initially the test will be offered via primary care physicians and pulmonologists in the USA for high risk asymptomatic patients as well as patients who have indeterminate lung nodules. Oncimmune will bill private insurance companies as well as government-run Medicare Part B carriers on behalf of the patient.
Source: University of Nottingham