For years oncology practice has continued to both over- and under- treat cancer patients. Though not always mistreated, aggressive and indolent cancers are difficult for clinicians to distinguish between. Therefore, the treatment decision is often left to the preference of the patient. Cellanyx has developed a cutting-edge solution by combining two of the most exciting technologies in medical science: single cell analysis and machine learning/AI.
Traditionally, scientists analyze dead tumor cells from a biopsy. Alternatively, Cellanyx studies the behaviors of live tumor cells. This uncovers how aggressive or abnormal the tumor cells are because, as CEO Guy L. Fish explains, “live tumor cells don’t lie.” The tumor cells are cultured proprietary extracellular matrices that do not alter their behaviors or markers. Cellanyx’ technology tracks thousands of cells and hundreds of markers per cell at once, over multiple time periods, for one tumor sample. Millions of measurements of cell behaviors are then analyzed by machine learning algorithms. Cellanyx’ most recent work revolves around prostate cancer treatment decisions since the traditional risk assessment test is only 65% accurate. Cellanyx’ predictive metrics has an overall accuracy of 88% (specificity = 92%) which is significantly higher than any current prostate test.
This is great news for the 250,000 prostate cancer patients each year who are forced to make treatment decisions without adequate information. Cellanyx’ ability to observe the living cells opens the door for major improvements in assessing the appropriate treatment for patients with prostate cancer, bladder, breast, and renal cancers. Many patients have indolent cancer cells that could be watched for years without needing treatment. Patients could avoid a lot of costs, side effects, and complications if doctors can identify the tumors as indolent.
A part of Cellanyx’ recent success is thanks to the addition of a new management team which includes Guy L. Fish, MD, MBA as Cellanyx’ CEO as of February 2019. With his 30 years of expertise, “Guy brings an enormous breadth of experience in clinical practice as well as healthcare strategy that spans new technology assessment, business development, fund raising and commercialization for emerging biotechnology companies” remarked Board Chairman Dr. Pravin Chaturvedi. The new management team is focused on advancing commercial operations and increasing funding. Their goal is to establish a commercial laboratory in the second half of 2020. With this progress, Cellanyx is on track to be commercial and able to take patient specimens under fee for service beginning early 2021.
Leave a Comment