Oxford BioDynamics announces US launch of blood test for cancer patients
Oxford BioDynamics, a biotechnology company developing precision medicine tests for immune health based on its EpiSwitch 3D genomics platform, has announced the successful clinical validation and US launch of its Checkpoint Inhibitor Response Test – EpiSwitch CiRT.
The first-of-its-kind clinical blood test predicts the likelihood of a cancer patient's response to an essential, widely used class of therapeutics - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs).
The EpiSwitch qPCR blood test has demonstrated best-in-class performance.
Many patients are considered for ICI immunotherapy - an alternative approach to chemotherapy or radiation - that works with a patient's immune system to fight cancer.
ICIs have been the paramount breakthrough in cancer treatment and are now used against more than 15 types of cancer.
However, typically less than 1 in 3 patients receiving ICIs shows any benefit; instead, many experience serious toxicity events affecting almost any organ as well as facing significant financial burden to pay for these specialised biologic medicines.
Dr Jon Burrows, CEO of Oxford BioDynamics, said: "Oxford Biodynamics Checkpoint Inhibitor Response Test is a very important step forward for precision medicine.
"EpiSwitch CiRT directly links clinical outcome to gene regulation and with high accuracy predicts patient response.
"Since one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime, it is essential to develop smart testing that can rapidly predict treatment response and guide us to the most efficacious therapies and maximise benefits for patients.
"In terms of the healthcare economics, ICIs alone cost the US healthcare system $17 billion annually. The ability to stratify patients based on their likelihood of response will enable the system to better manage these costs while allowing us to deliver smarter, better care to patients."
The US launch of CiRT follows the earlier launch of EpiSwitch CST (Covid Severity Test) and expands OBD's immune health test offerings.
