NEW YORK, March 7 (GenomeWeb News) - Proteome and Egenix will co-develop a semen-based diagnostic kit for prostate cancer, Proteome said today.
The non-invasive test will be based on the human carcinoma antigen.
Under the agreement, Egenix will fund research to optimize the detection of HCA in semen of prostate cancer patients. The companies will then share the rights for further development and commercialization of the test.
Egenix estimated a potential US market size for the HCA test of up to $1.5 billion, according to a statement.
"We initially wondered if there would be social or cultural objections to a test that requires the patient to provide an ejaculate specimen," said Egenix president Jedd Levine. "But it's common to look in organ secretions for signs of cancer in that organ and ... most men would willingly provide a semen specimen to potentially avoid a painful needle biopsy."