VitroScan awarded €1.9M by Biotech Booster to deliver chemotherapy response prediction for ovarian cancer patients
25 November 2024
PRESS RELEASE
VitroScan has developed ChemoPredict™, a predictive tumor testing service that revolutionizes treatment options for ovarian cancer patients. The technology platform identifies chemotherapy-resistant versus chemotherapy-sensitive patients, demonstrating its capability to select effective and cost-efficient treatment strategies for individual patients.
With 5-year survival rates of less than 50%, ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynecological cancers and has a high-rate disease progression. The European Union has the highest incidence of this cancer worldwide, which translates to the high economic burden of over 2.5 billion Euros in direct healthcare costs.
Although treatments are available, 30% of patients have a tumor that does not respond to the standard primary therapy of carboplatin + paclitaxel and move on to an advanced stage. In total, about 70% of ovarian cancer patients relapse within three years of treatment and are then treated with a range of second- and third-line therapies.
The high-rate disease progression, variable treatment success, large economic burden, as well as the few predictive biomarkers for this tumor type make ovarian cancer a prime candidate for developing reliable predictive tumor testing. Knowledge of tumor sensitivity will allow both doctors and patients to make better informed treatment decisions and avoid unnecessary side effects and loss of quality of life. It will also open up avenues for biopharmaceutical testing of potential new treatments.
Biotech Booster’s funding will enable VitroScan to leverage the value of know-how, scientific and clinical evidence, and existing partnerships with ovarian cancer clinical experts from Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), to prepare for clinical implementation and make sure the service meets the quality and regulatory standards that are required for bringing it to patients.
About VitroScan
VitroScan is a Dutch biotech company based at the Leiden Bio Science Park and funded by angel investors, Libertatis Ergo Holding B.V. (LEH), and through multiple grants in consortia. VitroScan offers predictive testing solutions based on ex vivo 3D micro tumor testing. Recent data have shown a strong correlation between the assay results and the response of ovarian cancer patients to chemotherapy in the clinic. The company works in close collaboration (inter)national hospitals and patient organizations to deliver reliable testing for patients.
https://vitroscan.nl/
About Libertatis Ergo Holding B.V.
LEH is an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Leiden University which creates, supports and invests in startup and spinout companies related to Leiden University’s activities, many of which are located on the Leiden Bio Science Park.
https://libertatisergo.com/about-us/
About Biotech Booster
Biotech Booster is a Dutch national program to stimulate commercialization of biotechnology research from academia and small industry. The program runs from 2022 – 2031 and is financed by the Dutch government’s National Growth Fund with a subsidy of ~ € 250M, to which co-financing from partners will be added.
http://www.biotechbooster.nl/
For more information:
Willemijn Vader, CEO
solutions@vitroscan.nl
VitroScan B.V.
Leiden Bio Science Park, The Netherlands