For Its Blood Test to Detect Early-stage Prostate Cancer, Mumbai-based Datar Cancer Genetics Gets 'Breakthrough Designation' from the US FDA

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The US FDA grants the coveted Breakthrough Designation for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Detection Blood Test Developed in India by Datar Cancer Genetics

It is the first blood test able to detect early-stage Prostate Cancer with high accuracy in men aged 55 years and above

Datar Cancer Genetics today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 'Breakthrough Designation' for its blood test to detect early-stage prostate cancer. This is the second test from Datar Cancer Genetics that has received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the US FDA. Late last year, Datar Cancer Genetics’ breast cancer detection test became the first such test to receive the designation.

This is the first blood test for men which can detect early-stage prostate cancer with high accuracy. The test is available in India by the name of Easycheck. Men with serum PSA of more than 3 ng / mL can avail of this test in consultation with their physician. The test requires 5 ml blood and does not involve exposure to radiation or any of the discomforts of a digital rectal examination. 

The blood test is based on the detection of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) specific to prostate adenocarcinoma. The test can detect early-stage prostate cancers with more than 99% accuracy without any false positives. The test has been validated in large clinical studies involving healthy males and prostate cancer patients.

In India, about 35,000 men were detected with prostate cancer in 2020 and this number is slated to increase every year, as is the case for all cancers due to various risk factors. Unfortunately, most prostate cancer cases are detected at late stages (III or IV) where it has spread to other organs. In such cases, curative surgeries that can remove the cancerous tissue are not viable options, and treatment involves long-term administration of anticancer drugs to manage the disease. If detected at early stages where cancer has not spread out of the prostate, prostate cancer has a very high (>99%) chance of being cured.

"About 75% of prostate biopsies are benign and with foreknowledge, these could be potentially avoided. The new blood test by the Datar team will help Doctors decide precisely the patients who need a biopsy and who do not. This is a very significant scientific advancement in the complex field of liquid biopsies coming from India. I congratulate the Datar team for their exemplary work and achievement," said Dr. Sewanti Limaye, Director of Medical and Precision Oncology and Oncology Research, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai.

"It is a landmark acknowledgement that the US FDA has recognized the potential benefits of our 'first in the world' prostate cancer detection test. The highly coveted 'Breakthrough Designation' is granted after very rigorous evaluation. We take great pride in the fact that this test has been wholly developed in India and by Indian scientists and clinicians. This is our ongoing contribution to the Prime Minister's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission after the breakthrough breast cancer detection test and is further intended to augment the global fight against cancer," said Mr. Rajan Datar, Chairman of the Company.

Appreciably, getting the test does not involve having to go to any hospital or health centre and waiting for appointments. The blood collection for this test can be done in the convenience and privacy of one's home or office after which the patient can go about their routine work. From the patient's point of view, the whole process is very non-intrusive.

The test is already available in Europe and is CE marked. The Company is in discussions with several leading healthcare providers for ready accessibility in India.

About Datar Cancer Genetics

Datar Cancer Genetics is a global oncology research and applications company that is spearheading the development of non-invasive technologies for improved detection, treatment and management of cancer. The Company's state-of-the-art cancer research centre is NABL, ISO, CAP and CLIA accredited. The Company serves cancer patients and suspected cases in the UK, European Union, United States, GCC, and India.

AI-based Oncology Startup NIRAMAI to Provide Contactless Breast Cancer Screening to Dr. Ambadi’s Calicut Centre for Surgery

Dr. Ambadi’s Calicut Centre for Surgery (CCS) located at Metromed Hospital has partnered with NIRAMAI Health Analytix, India’s foremost AI-based breast cancer screening company, to offer contactless, privacy-sensitive, breast cancer screening services to customers.

Niramai’s innovative solution called ‘Thermalytix’, is an automated breast health screening and diagnostic tool, which combines thermal imaging with artificial intelligence. The solution is non-contact, radiation-free, accurate, automated, and works on women of all age groups. Given that it is portable and low-cost than other methods, the solution makes cancer screening more accessible and affordable to all.

With this collaboration, women can also avail of home-screening services which will bring this novel non-touch breast cancer screening solution to the door-step of homes reducing the need to go to a hospital during the pandemic. Only female technicians will provide this service following all covid safety precautions and women can avail of this service with a prior appointment. The test will be conducted in complete privacy without any physical contact. NIRAMAI Thermalytix test is appropriate for women of 18 years and above. It is privacy-aware, non-invasive, radiation-free, and can detect the minutest of lumps or other abnormalities.

Dr. Geetha Manjunath, Founder & CEO, Niramai, added, “We are excited to partner with Dr. Ambadi’s Calicut Centre for Surgery to take our clinically proven Thermalytix screening service to many more women in India and help save lives. Today, the pandemic has impacted our lives in an unprecedented way. People are unable to go to hospitals for their regular health check-ups or other ailments. Niramai is providing multiple services to cater to this new requirement. We are also conducting many free programs to raise awareness amongst women about early detection of breast cancer and educating the masses on the importance of frequent checks. .”

Dr. Abdurahman Ambadi, Chairman & Chief Laparoscopic Surgeon of CCS, said, “We are committed to offering the best surgical healthcare services to our customers. Collaborating with an innovative company like Niramai to offer early-stage breast screening will surely be beneficial to our patients.”

Niramai Health Analytix is a deep-tech company with expertise in thermal imaging and AI. They have developed an innovative AI Engine called Thermalytix™ which enables a radiation-free, non-invasive, non-touch, breast cancer screening solution for hospitals and diagnostic centers. NIRAMAI has recently also developed a new solution called FeverTest for Automated COVID Screening leveraging its expertise in thermal imaging and AI.

The innovative machine learning techniques used in Niramai’s solution have led to 9 US granted patents. Niramai has won many awards including the Gold prize in Hack Osaka 2019, Aegis Graham Bell Award, Frost and Sullivan Award and has been part of accelerators such as Google Launchpad, Philips Healthworks, Nvidia Inception, BIRAC Winner, Elevate 100, and others. Niramai is the only Indian company listed on the 2019 Top AI 100 startups in the world announced by CB Insights.


Niramai also organizes health-first webinars on diverse topics every month with participation from well-known health experts. You can find more details on https://niramai.org/

About Dr. Ambadi’s Calicut Centre for Surgery

Dr. Ambadi’s Calicut Centre for Surgery (CSS) is a surgical specialty hospital located at Metromed Hospital Complex in the heart of Calicut city. A dedicated centre for every surgical solution; CCS provides quality surgical care through the leading surgeons of the city, and with least possible hospitalization.


Our departments include General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgical Oncology, Surgical Gynecology, Pediatric Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, and Maxillofacial Surgery. We also offer surgical consultations on a prior appointment basis. For more information and appointments, call: 0495 2430333 / 7994400333

World’s First Integrative Oncology Healthtech Platform, ZenOnco.io, Recognized at ESMO for its Artificial Intelligence-Based Free Cancer Treatment Guidance

ZenOnco.io, the World’s First Integrative Oncology healthtech platform, has received global recognition at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Virtual Congress on September 21, 2020 for introducing the World’s First Artificial Intelligence-based tool to generate directional cancer treatment reports free of cost: ZIOPAR (ZenOnco.io Integrative Oncology Preliminary Assessment Report). This tool is accessible for free at https://zenonco.io/ziopar/.

This is soon after ZenOnco.io launched India’s first online cancer community – CANNECT dedicated to connecting cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and other healthcare professionals to share their experiences and knowledge to inspire each other. Cancer warriors can join CANNECT for free at https://zenonco.io/community/.

Both these accomplishments have been in collaboration with its sister concern Love Heals Cancer (section 80G registered NGO). ZenOnco.io and Love Heals Cancer guide cancer patients free of cost in their treatment journey right from the beginning: This includes choosing the right oncologist / hospital, multi-disciplinary tumor board, getting diagnostic tests, managing side effects of treatment, chemo drugs at affordable price, onco-nutrition consultation, emotional wellness, home care, and connecting with other cancer warriors. ZenOnco.io provides 360-degree care to cancer patients through its in-house team of dedicated doctors available 24/7 to guide cancer patients in their treatment journey.

The ratio of oncologists to cancer patients is poor at 1:2000 in India, which results in a low quality of care for many cancer patients. 85% cancer patients prefer to know the possible treatment options. ZIOPAR provides Artificial Intelligence-based directional cancer treatment reports free of cost to patients to guide them on possible treatment options, covering both medical as well as complementary treatment approaches. Cancer patients are required to provide six basic inputs that determine the output of the report (detailed up to 20-25 pages), with information on medical treatment options, diagnostic tests required, and complementary treatment approaches (including guidelines on nutrition, fitness, stress-management, and symptom management). ZIOPAR is based on standard protocols, guidelines and research by esteemed organizations in oncology, such as ESMO, Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and others.

ZIOPAR has already benefitted 21,000+ cancer patients and caregivers across 16 countries by providing detailed directional cancer treatment reports. ZIOPAR is free to use to empower and educate millions of cancer patients in knowing their possible treatment options, asking the right questions to their doctors, and being confident in their treatment.

CANNECT is another free platform introduced by ZenOnco.io to make quality Integrative Oncology cancer care accessible to all. It connects cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and other healthcare professionals to share their experiences and knowledge to inspire each other.

Kishan Shah, Co-founder of ZenOnco.io and Love Heals Cancer, says, “Being recognised globally at the ESMO Annual Virtual Congress 2020 is a testimony to our dedication to making quality Integrative Oncology cancer care accessible to all. ZIOPAR is the result of countless months of efforts puts in by oncologists, scientists, technology team and feedback from patients. It empowers cancer patients to ask the right questions to ensure that they are on the right treatment path. We have already helped 21,000+ cancer patients through ZIOPAR, but there is still a huge scope to help millions of more cancer patients. We are also very proud to launch India’s first cancer community – CANNECT to bring together thousands of cancer warriors.”

Dimple Parmar, Co-founder of ZenOnco.io and Love Heals Cancer, adds, “ZIOPAR is an advanced tool based on Artificial Intelligence and protocols issued by international bodies. The purpose of the tool is to educate and empower cancer patients to know their indicative treatment plan on both medical as well as complementary treatment fronts. Along with guidance on treatment, we have also been receiving requests from thousands of cancer patients that they want to connect with other cancer warriors who have either gone through a similar cancer journey or are going through it. CANNECT brings together all cancer warriors so that they can connect with, learn from and inspire each other. Because we heal together in a community.”

Link to ZIOPAR: https://zenonco.io/ZIOPAR/
Link to CANNECT: https://zenonco.io/community/

New Age Technology can Help Indian Cancer Patients Save a Lot of Money

OncoStem Diagnostics, an Oncology focused company that enables personalised cancer treatment, is pleased to announce the publication of a review paper on the impact of over treatment of Early stage breast cancer on patients. The review indicates that in early-stage breast cancer where the risk of relapse is very low, overtreatment can be damaging to a patient both physically and financially. To avoid this, 6 senior cancer specialists from across India who authored the paper advocate that patients opt for OncoStem's 'CanAssist Breast' a prognostic test designed to classify patients depending on the risk of cancer recurrence. Low-risk patients typically do not benefit from adding chemotherapy to the treatment regime. OncoStem's "Made in India" test is developed and validated on Indian patients and thus is most suitable. By analysing the aggressiveness of patient's tumor CanAssist Breast identifies patients who will have minimal benefit (Low-risk) or who will benefit the most (high risk) by adding chemotherapy to their treatment.

[caption id="attachment_146639" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Senior Cancer Specialist from across India have contributed to the study.[/caption]

The review paper brings out key insights on the need for a personalized approach for treating breast cancer. The oncologists who authored the paper are Dr. G S Bhattacharyya (Salt Lake Medical Center Kolkata), Dr. DC Doval (RGCI, Delhi), Dr. Chirag Desai (Vedanta, Ahmedabad), Dr. Harit Chaturvedi (Max Hospital, Delhi), Dr. Sanjay Sharma (ACI, Mumbai) and Dr. Somashekhar S P (Manipal, Bangalore). These renowned oncologists have a combined experience of 15 decades in Oncology and are key opinion leaders with many scientific publications to their names.

Commenting on the review, Dr. Manjiri Bakre, CEO and Founder, OncoStem Diagnostics said, "We are pleased by the insights provided by this team of esteemed and highly experienced oncologists. This is a great validation for 'CanAssist Breast' and the team behind the research. The benefit that early-stage patients receive from chemotherapy is usually low. Since most early-stage patients can do well without chemotherapy, this makes accurate risk prediction an all-important prerequisite for effective treatment. It is therefore necessary to find out patients with low-risk of cancer recurrence to avoid chemotherapy, given its side effects and the toll it takes on the patients' quality of life. Currently, despite prognostic tests that predict risk of cancer recurrence being widely adopted in the West, most Indian patients do not have access to these expensive tests. As a result, most Indian patients, including those who might have a 'low risk of recurrence', are often prescribed chemotherapy and consequently bear toxic effects of chemotherapy treatment that reduces their quality of life. Especially in the times of COVID-19 pandemic, taking chemotherapy in a hospital can increase patient's risk of contracting the infection. A test like 'CanAssist Breast' which can be helpful to doctors and patients determine the risk-benefit ratio of chemotherapy and plan accordingly.

There is also a huge cost to administering chemotherapy, whether paid for by the patient, insurance companies or the Indian Government. If the use of chemotherapy can be evidence-driven using a test like CanAssist Breast, then it can lead to potential cost savings to the patient, insurance companies and Government of about INR 700 crores per annum. This is especially beneficial in a country like India where the breast cancer incidence is rising dramatically."

Prof. Dr. Somashekhar S P, Chairman & HOD Surgical Oncology-MHEPL (Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore) added, "'CanAssist Breast' is backed with robust scientific background and research. It's highly accurate, well validated on Indian patients and has a short turn around time. The test stratifies low and high risk breast cancer hormonal receptor patients and avoids unnecessary chemotherapy. In addition to this, it is highly cost effective without compromising the outcomes. It can help oncologists, tailor make risk stratification and better treatment planning."

Dr. Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman, Max Institute of Cancer Care, Delhi said, "CanAssist Breast test helps in identifying the group of patients for whom chemotherapy is not helpful. We avoid the cost and side effects without compromising on the outcomes. The exorbitant cost of other tests serving the same purpose was beyond the reach of our population. 'CanAssist Breast' will lead to wide application of this knowledge and help tailor breast cancer treatment better than ever."

The burden of a breast cancer diagnosis is multifold - women experience the physical trauma of cancer treatment as well as psycho-social issues due to side-effects of the treatment. Patients and their families undergo considerable financial toxicity in terms of high treatment costs, wage loss and loss in productivity. This is especially critical in India where most medical expenditure is out of their own savings. Most families experience catastrophic payments and financial distress as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis. With early-stage breast cancer where the risk of relapse is very low, overtreatment can be damaging to a patient both physically and financially. The review paper summarizes studies from India have shown that the cost of drugs like the chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment account for more than 1/3rd of a patient's total cost of illness. Other than medical expenses, patients also experience financial distress to the tune of an extra 20% of cost of treatment, due to loss of income (both patient and caregiver) while undergoing cancer treatment, as well as travel and accommodation expenses incurred for treatment.

Breast cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease. Decades of research has shown that breast cancer has clearly distinguishable subtypes that need to be treated differently. A personalized approach is required to ensure optimal treatment. Treatment can easily be de-escalated for early stage breast cancer patients using biomarker based tests that determine the risk of recurrence and guide treatment accordingly. Studies have shown that patients with low risk of relapse can safely avoid chemotherapy with no difference in survival. We now have an Indian solution CanAssist Breast that can help 70% breast cancer patients safely avoid chemotherapy. Indian patients can now take advantage of the latest in science and technology to improve their quality of life and decrease their financial burden.

OncoStem Diagnostics, founded by Dr. Manjiri Bakre, develops innovative multi-marker prognostic tests to enable personalized treatment of cancer patients. OncoStem's 'CanAssist Breast' is an innovative, cost effective test that can help clinicians to plan tailor made treatment for each breast cancer patient based on tumor biology.

The risk of cancer recurrence is dependent on tumor type, stage and on the biology of each patient's tumor. 'CanAssist-Breast' determines the proteomic fingerprint of the tumor. This information is then used by OncoStem's proprietary machine learning-based algorithm that stratifies patients as 'low or high' risk for cancer recurrence. Patients classified as 'high-risk' would have a greater probability of the cancer recurring than those classified as low-risk. This will guide clinicians in planning treatment and help patients in understanding the prognosis of their disease.

OncoStem is currently working on similar tests for other subtypes of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. OncoStem has raised US $9 million in funding from Sequoia Capital and Artiman Ventures.

Website: www.oncostem.com.

~ NewsVoir

Oncology Startup OncoStem successfully completes Validation study in European Cohort

OncoStem Diagnostics, an oncology focused company that enables personalised cancer treatment, has successfully completed its first ever single center, blinded validation study in Europe. The study, conducted in association with Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Spain, involved retrospective validation on a set of 290 patient samples with an accuracy of 96%. The result of this study was on par with the accuracy seen in the previous studies conducted by OncoStem diagnostics. 

OncoStem’s CanAssist Breast is a prognostic test for early-stage hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients. It makes customized treatment possible by analysing the patients tumor in depth and providing a patient specific report. CanAssist Breast categorizes patients based on the biology of the tumor as either ‘low or high’ risk for cancer recurrence. This clear distinction of patients based on risk of cancer recurrence allows doctors to devise treatment plans that are in tune with the prognosis, maintaining a balance between the benefits and side effects of chemotherapy treatment.

Patients who are at low risk of relapse can potentially avoid chemotherapy and its associated side-effects while patients who are at high risk of relapse would benefit from the addition of chemotherapy to their treatment regimen.

The retrospective study performed in collaboration with VHIO, Spain was conducted on samples of breast cancer patients ranging in age from 28 to 92 years. The mean age at diagnosis was found to be 61 years and the predominant tumour size was T1 (less than 2cm tumour), in line with previously reported data on Caucasian cohorts. In India, mean age at diagnosis is about 48 years and T2 (2-5 cm tumour) tends to be the predominant tumour size. Despite these differences in the patient profile, the accuracy of CanAssist Breast risk classification in the Caucasian population was found to be the same as what was seen in OncoStem’s Indian studies (96% NPV). This suggests that CanAssist Breast test can be used across all age groups and across a broad range of clinical presentations of early-stage breast cancer. 

[caption id="attachment_135626" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dr Manjiri Bakre, CEO and Founder, OncoStem Diagnostics[/caption]

Speaking about the validation, Dr Manjiri Bakre, CEO and Founder, OncoStem Diagnostics said “We are very encouraged by the results of this study as it demonstrates that CanAssist Breast has universal applicability. This validation has taken us a step closer towards our goal to globally validate CanAssist Breast and provide patients with a world class product.”

OncoStem Diagnostics presented the validation study data at the recently concluded annual ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Congress 2019 in Europe.

More about OncoStem Diagnostics:

OncoStem Diagnostics develops innovative multi-marker prognostic tests to enable  personalized treatment of cancer patients. Founded by Dr Manjiri Bakre, OncoStem’s ‘CanAssist Breast’ is an innovative, cost effective test that can help clinicians to plan tailor made treatment for each breast cancer patient based on tumor biology.

OncoStem is currently working on similar tests for other subtypes of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. OncoStem has raised US $9 million in  funding from Sequoia Capital and Artiman Ventures.

Oncology Startup Carer partners with Fortis Hospital for Cancer Treatment

Carer, India’s first integrative oncology startup that provides personalized cancer care to patients, has partnered with Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore to provide an integrative approach to treating cancer.

Integrative Oncology is the use of non-clinical therapies along with conventional forms of cancer treatment to improve the effectiveness of treatment and patient outcomes. Through this partnership, Carer will deliver non-clinical therapies like physical rehabilitation, psychological intervention, and nutrition management to help cancer patients manage their disease better.

The Carer Protocol will be delivered to Fortis patients at home from the time of diagnosis and continue throughout treatment and post-treatment. As a part of the partnership, Carer will work closely with doctors, consultants and non-clinical departments at Fortis to provide holistic and therapeutic interventions to patients at home.

Commenting on the tie-up, Samara Mahindra, CEO & Founder of Carer said “This partnership with Fortis enables us to reach out to a wider and concentrated group of patients and caregivers who are looking for a holistic approach to treating cancer. When a reputed hospital chain like Fortis advocates a patient-centric approach in treating cancer,  it creates a paradigm shift in the field of cancer care. This tie-up further strengthens our effort in making integrative cancer care as a part of mainstream treatment."

Speaking about the partnership, Dr. Manish Mattoo, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore “The Carer protocol has the potential to add great value in the recovery of a cancer patient. Today, a number of cancer cases are predominantly lifestyle-related.  Integrated cancer care synchronises medical treatment with lifestyle management by treating the condition with allopathy complemented by nutrition therapy, yoga, movement, and mental wellbeing. Carer’s holistic approach will help in the successful and effective integration of conventional treatment and lifestyle management in treating cancer patients"

Currently, Carer has tied up with 7 major hospital groups in South India. In the next one year, Carer plans to partner with 10+ hospitals across India.

About Carer

Carer is India’s first integrative oncology startup that provides personalized cancer care to patients.  Started by Samara Mahindra in 2018, Carer provides integrative therapy and treatment to help patients heal better, feel better and live better during and after cancer treatment.

Unlike in the west, cancer treatment in India focuses on medication alone, ignoring lifestyle changes that could prevent  relapse. This stems from lack of awareness of integrative oncology that looks beyond medication and focuses on nutrition, yoga, meditation and physiological interventions that improve patient outcomes and relieve side effects of standard treatments. Carer’s integrative therapy and treatment are based on globally recognised non-clinical therapies originally created and established by top cancer hospitals like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre and MD Anderson.

The Carer Protocol focuses on three primary aspects of the patient’s condition – ensure decrease in side effects, manage the treatment better, improve immunity and quality of life. It is recommended to patients during their treatment phase and continues till recovery and remission. The program goes along with the treatment regimen and is recommended at the diagnosis stage. However, regardless of the stage at which the protocol has begun, results show substantial improvement in the patient - even those that are terminally ill.

Website: https://www.carerforcancer.com/

About Fortis Healthcare Limited   

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics and daycare specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates its healthcare delivery services in India, Dubai and Sri Lanka with 43 healthcare facilities (including projects under development), approximately 9,000 potential beds and over 400 diagnostics centres.

India to Get 1st Cancer Tech Focused Startup Incubator in Kochi, Kerala

India will get its first cancer technology incubator at the Kerala Technology Innovation Zone in KINFRA Hi-Tech Park, Kochi, to create India-focused innovations and developments in the cancer care sector, reported New India Express.

Floated by Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC), the incubator will support in converting research into entrepreneurship in the cancer care sector. The incubator will also get research support from University of Illinois, which have recently signed an MoU with Kerala.

CRCC, which will help the incubator with its clinical expertise, will sign an MoU with KSUM on January 13.

Setup by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the nodal agency of Government of Kerala for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state, the new centre is Called as "Centre for Biomedical Research, Innovation and Commercialization in Cancer" (BRICS).

The incubator will focus on technology innovations in cancer care, frugal innovations that can improve the access of best cancer treatment for the public, sector-specific fintech innovations and converting academic researches to products.

The incubator will have Deep Tech infrastructure, various labs for cancer research including Cytology, and an advanced prototype creation and validation facility.

Each startup selected for the incubation will get a maximum incubation period of three years without extension and it is due to the fact that gestation period in cancer research is relatively higher. However if recommended by an an expert committee then an additional one year will be considered as an extension.

KSUM CEO Dr Saji Gopinath, said in a media statement, "We are providing the basic infrastructure now. We hope that international start-ups and companies will join in future. Developing countries have a bigger cancer challenge because of late detection and financial issues. The solutions created here should increase the productivity of doctors, too,” said KSUM CEO Dr Saji Gopinath.

According to Dr Moni Abraham Kuriakose, Director at CCRC, “Most of the studies are done abroad and purely based on the needs and types of diseases faced by their population. We need a unique platform for ourselves and this would be the first step towards it. The use of imported technology is also the reason why the cost of cancer care treatment goes high. If we can develop our own technology, the expenses will also go down."

"We will be guiding the programme by bringing out the key areas where research and innovation is necessary. Our doctors will help out in their specific field of expertise.", he said.

Industry partnership with private players like Biocon, Siemens Healthineers, NeST Technologies, and IBS are being explored in order to address the issue of marketing channels for the products in future.

India contributes to 7.8% of the global cancer burden and 8.33% of global deaths due to cancer and was reported that the number of new cancer cases in India was 1,219,649 in 2016.

According to the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), for every two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in India, one woman dies of it.

To recall, it was in year 2016 when two Kerala-based researchers -- Dr. Manzoor Koyakutty and Dr. Shantikumar V. Nair, have had developed a technology alongside a gadget that will detect cancer within 30 minutes. Working at Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, the researchers have even got international patent for same and an allocation of Rs 60 lakh funds from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

Vishal Doshi's AUM Biosciences Licenses its 1st Novel, Highly Selective Anti-Cancer Drug 'ETC-206'

AUM Biosciences, a Singapore-based oncology-focused biotechnology company founded by Vishal Doshi, has has licensed its first novel, highly selective anti-cancer drug, ETC-206, from A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC). The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology.

AUM has licensed the global rights to develop, commercialise and manufacture ETC-206 in all indications. ETC-206 was discovered and developed through a collaboration between A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) and Duke-NUS Medical School (a partnership between Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore). It advanced into first-in-man trials in December 2016. Initial clinical studies suggest that ETC-206 is very well tolerated and could be used as a therapy across a range of liquid and solid tumour types.

The drug promises a more targeted approach by inhibiting the Mnk enzyme in cancer cells, which is a key player in promoting cancer growth when activated. This could lower mortality rates for cancer and improve quality of life for cancer patients compared to traditional chemotherapy, which kills cells in a less specific fashion and affects more than just the cancer cells.

“Due to low efficacy and steep costs associated with many cancer treatments, the demand for more precise anti-cancer treatments has become imperative. AUM’s small molecule and biomarker driven approach allows us to implement innovative trial designs enabling “multiple shots on goal”, in cancer treatment,” AUM’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Vishal Doshi said.

ETC-206 is the first in AUM’s pipeline of novel targeted therapies with the potential to be developed both independently and in combination with other therapies. The drug’s ability to isolate and target only cancerous cells promises a breakthrough opportunity globally.

“ETC-206 is a prime example of how A*STAR has been able to translate R&D into positive outcomes to create economic growth and enhance lives for Singaporeans. We look forward to working closely with more Singapore based enterprises such as AUM Biosciences as we continue to leverage our drug discovery and development capabilities to support the growth of the local biotech ecosystem in Singapore.” Said Dr Damian O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre.

“Duke-NUS scientists and researchers have led many discoveries with great potential for the welfare of people in Singapore and beyond,” stated Dr. David Epstein, Director of Duke-NUS’ Centre for Technology and Development (CTeD), and the School’s Vice Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who is also an associate professor of the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme. “ETC-206 is an important accomplishment exemplifying Duke-NUS’s mission of facilitating the translation of basic research into commercial entities and products. We are proud to partner with A*STAR in realizing this enterprising venture that was 'Made in Singapore' and is being taken forward by AUM, a Singapore-based startup. We look forward to more startups creating entrepreneurship opportunities in the sector."

ETC-206’s licensing by AUM not only puts Singapore on the map, but also enables the company to be at the forefront of emerging oncology trends. This is a significant step towards its vision of “Asia to global” by accelerating the development of innovative and affordable medicines.

“We are now speaking with investors to accelerate ETC-206’s development and our broader molecule acquisition roadmap. AUM will fund further clinical development and will be responsible for regulatory filings, and for clinical studies for this and future drugs,” Mr. Doshi commented.

As a future roadmap, AUM has a strategic focus of acquiring and developing promising small molecules targeted oncology assets to unlock their potential, including those that are de-prioritised or not progressed by their originators due to strategic and financial limitations in the healthcare industry. Its mandate of “No biomarker, No drug” serves to increase the probability of success.

Cancer prevalence in Asia is estimated at 17.4 million in 2018, with about 8.8 million new cases every year, accounting for about half of the new global cancer cases. The number of new cases in Asia is expected to increase from 8.8 million in 2018 to 11.8 million by 2030 creating a huge unmet medical need in Asia.

AUM Biosciences (AUM) is an oncology-focused Asian biotechnology company committed to developing affordable cancer therapies. Dedicated to unlocking the value in innovation, we aim to create value for patients, physicians and our partners by harnessing the power of precision medicine, and digital health. AUM Biosciences focuses on early-stage development of innovative medicines for the treatment of cancers prevalent in Asians but has the potential to address global market.

AUM develops potent and highly selective therapeutics in oncology, with an aim to change the drug development paradigm by implementing a holistic approach to developing drugs. AUM Biosciences is led by a highly-experienced management team with over 50 years of high-quality oncology drug development experience combined.

Headquartered in Singapore, AUM is strategically positioned to work with, partner and collaborate with leading research institutes, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies globally. AUM will have a specific focus on indications which have high unmet medical needs in Asian patients with global potential.

Swiss Healthcare Giant Looking for Startups in India To Help It Bring Evidence-based Medicine

Swiss multinational healthcare firm Roche is looking for startups in India that will help the company bring evidence-based medicine in India through its proprietary technology, according to the company’s newly appointed India head. Notably, Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an approach to medical practice intended to optimize decision-making by emphasizing the use of evidence from well-designed and well-conducted research.

Lara Bezerra, Managing Director, Roche (India), said in a media statement that as part of its long-term strategy the company can bring applications of Flatiron to India. Flatiron is a New York-based health-tech company that it acquired for $1.9-billion, this year.

Flatiron Health is a market leader in oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) software, as well as the curation and development of real-world evidence for cancer research.

Roche during the acquisition of the company in February said that with its large network of community oncology practices and academic medical centres across the US, Flatiron Health has created a technology platform designed to learn from the experience of every patient.

“When we are having this vision for India we realized that whatever you do in India you can’t do in short term. So we have to think something long term. So we are looking how should we bring Flatiron tech to India,” said Benzerra. “May be there is startup in India that can work with Flatiron so we are looking at all these options.”

Millions of patient profile is matched through this tech and the doctor is provided with the best possible outcomes that these kinds of patients have. So along with medical judgement the doctor has an option to lean into this data base too, explained V Simpson Emmanuel, Director, Market Access, Roche India.

The above news was first reported in Economic Times.

As Flatiron Health deals oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) software, then Roche has to look for startups in India working on similar lines. Bengaluru-based genomics-based diagnostics and research firm MedGenome is one on such startup that provides a range of genetic diagnostic tests in India, including prenatal, pediatric inherited disorders, and oncology testing. The startup also has a lab in Silicon Valley that offers sequencing platforms, bioinformatics, computing, and big data analytics.

An another such startup is Delhi-based Invictus Oncology, a cancer therapeutic startup backed by Ratan Tata.

Bengaluru-based OncoStem Diagnostics is also an oncology-focused startup offering personalized cancer treatment. The startup raised $6 million from Silicon Valley heavyweight investor Sequoia India, in September 2017.

Swiss Healthcare Giant Looking for Startups in India To Help It Bring Evidence-based Medicine

Swiss multinational healthcare firm Roche is looking for startups in India that will help the company bring evidence-based medicine in India through its proprietary technology, according to the company’s newly appointed India head. Notably, Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an approach to medical practice intended to optimize decision-making by emphasizing the use of evidence from well-designed and well-conducted research.

Lara Bezerra, Managing Director, Roche (India), said in a media statement that as part of its long-term strategy the company can bring applications of Flatiron to India. Flatiron is a New York-based health-tech company that it acquired for $1.9-billion, this year.

Flatiron Health is a market leader in oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) software, as well as the curation and development of real-world evidence for cancer research.

Roche during the acquisition of the company in February said that with its large network of community oncology practices and academic medical centres across the US, Flatiron Health has created a technology platform designed to learn from the experience of every patient.

“When we are having this vision for India we realized that whatever you do in India you can’t do in short term. So we have to think something long term. So we are looking how should we bring Flatiron tech to India,” said Benzerra. “May be there is startup in India that can work with Flatiron so we are looking at all these options.”

Millions of patient profile is matched through this tech and the doctor is provided with the best possible outcomes that these kinds of patients have. So along with medical judgement the doctor has an option to lean into this data base too, explained V Simpson Emmanuel, Director, Market Access, Roche India.

The above news was first reported in Economic Times.

As Flatiron Health deals oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) software, then Roche has to look for startups in India working on similar lines. Bengaluru-based genomics-based diagnostics and research firm MedGenome is one on such startup that provides a range of genetic diagnostic tests in India, including prenatal, pediatric inherited disorders, and oncology testing. The startup also has a lab in Silicon Valley that offers sequencing platforms, bioinformatics, computing, and big data analytics.

An another such startup is Delhi-based Invictus Oncology, a cancer therapeutic startup backed by Ratan Tata.

Bengaluru-based OncoStem Diagnostics is also an oncology-focused startup offering personalized cancer treatment. The startup raised $6 million from Silicon Valley heavyweight investor Sequoia India, in September 2017.