NEW YORK – Novigenix said Tuesday that it has received approval for a Eurostars grant of €1.8 million ($1.9 million) for a project that will support the development of a liquid biopsy test to predict myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.
The Lausanne, Switzerland-based company has developed an RNA-based liquid biopsy platform that uses AI to analyze immune-related gene expression for early evidence of disease or response to therapy.
The new funding will support a consortium that also involves the Dutch subsidiary of Crown Bioscience and researchers from Radboud University Medical Center to help develop the Myelo-Scan assay.
Novigenix said it believes Myelo-Scan could help to stratify prostate cancer patients, tailoring treatments to those most likely to benefit. According to the company, MDSC infiltration plays a critical role in the development of treatment resistance in advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer.
The company and its collaborators expect to start clinically validating the test to support CE-marking by the end of 2026. Novigenix added that it projects revenues of €1.14 billion if it succeeds in bringing the test to market.