Clinical Development
SPR Technology to Accelerate Clinical Research
Cross-discipline collaborations to develop various aspects of label-free sensing for rapid clinical testing
The emergence of personalized and stratified medicine is changing the landscape of clinical testing, driving the need for new point-of-care devices. Innovative diagnostic devices are essential for realizing these emerging trends.
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Label-free affinity biosensors are widely considered to be the technological solution to address these challenges. Together with academic and clinical research institutions, we strive to accelerate the commercialization of high-potential discoveries into the global market.
Current Projects for Clinical Development
Blood is complex. Time consuming sample preparation is often required. We are currently developing an inline sample filtration process for continuous monitoring of small therapeutic agents directly in serum.
Drugs with a narrow therapeutic window require frequent monitoring to ensure treatment safety and efficacy. We are developing a test to monitor methotrexate, an anti-cancer drug, within minutes in serum.
In the Canadian Blood Services donor screening program, anti-IgA antibodies were identified in 41% of severely deficient donors. We are collaborating with a blood bank to develop a rapid test for IgA and related proteins in samples.
FUTURE DIRECTION
<10%
CURRENT SUCCESS RATE​
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of the total cancer patient population responds positively to treatments. When Tested for eligibility, this rate increases to 1:3 patients.
$100k+
ANNUAL COST
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of immunotherapy can be well over $100,000 annually despite the low success rate.
3,000+
BIOLOGICS IN PIPELINE
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As the drug landscape shifts, many challenges such as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) remain mostly unaddressed.
Case example: Immunotherapy treatment for cancer in the US
Companion Devices for Biologics Safety and Efficacy Monitoring
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PoC device for therapeutic drug monitoring
We are experiencing a rise in new therapy such as biologics that are addressing unmet medical needs. These therapies are more precise and specific thus paving the way towards personalized medicine.
There is an exploding need for testing patients prior and during more personalized therapy. Several tests are often required to establish patient eligibility to biologic treatments. Additionally, constant monitoring during the treatment is necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of the therapy.