NEW YORK – Epigenetic diagnostics firm VolitionRx said on Monday that it has appointed Sage Healthcare as distributor of its Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test in Asia.
Last year, VolitionRx already appointed Sage as its nonexclusive licensee and distributor for its test in centralized labs in Singapore. Sage will now market the test, process samples, and provide test results from its centralized lab.
The Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test is an ELISA-based blood test that identifies and measures circulating nucleosomes, an early cancer marker. It is meant to screen older or at-risk dogs for cancer.
"With rapid urbanization and rising disposable income, pets have become an important part of Asian families," Jasmine Kway, CEO of Singapore Volition, said in a statement.
"Adding the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test to the routine wellness check-up for older dogs and at-risk breeds could help detect cancer early, when treatment is more effective and affordable," commented Irene Kum, general manager for Sage Healthcare.
Last year, the government of the Walloon Region and Namur Invest, both in Belgium, awarded VolitionRx approximately $4 million, and the firm announced a research collaboration with Swiss startup 4D Lifetec to evaluate the possibility of jointly identifying human patients with early-stage cancer.