Mainz Biomed, a molecular genetics diagnostic company specializing in early cancer detection, has announced a research collaboration with Microba Life Sciences, a precision microbiome company.
This partnership aims to leverage Microba’s advanced technology platform for measuring the human gut microbiome to discover novel biomarkers for pancreatic cancer detection.
The joint research project holds the potential to enhance the technical profile of the PancAlert screening test, combining DNA biomarkers with microbiome biomarkers.
Pancreatic Cancer and its Challenges
Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy with one of the highest mortality rates among major cancers. It ranks as the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, claiming approximately 466,000 lives each year.
The disease is often diagnosed at late stages, resulting in poor outcomes despite current standard of care treatments. The overall 5-year survival rate is only around 11% in the United States and 9% worldwide. However, early-stage detection significantly improves the chances of successful treatment and higher survival rates.
The Collaborative Research Project
Mainz Biomed expressed excitement about collaborating with Microba, citing the growing understanding of the microbiome’s role in pancreatic cancer.
By integrating diagnostic microbiome biomarkers into the PancAlert test, the goal is to develop a first-in-class screening tool for early-stage pancreatic cancer.
Microba’s proprietary metagenomic sequencing technology and bioinformatic tools will be utilized to identify disease-specific microbiome biomarkers.
Microba’s Metagenomic Platform Technology
The research project, expected to run through late 2023, will make use of Microba’s Community Profiler (MCP), a state-of-the-art metagenomic platform technology. MCP is renowned for its ability to provide comprehensive and accurate species profiles of human gastrointestinal samples.
By leveraging this technology, the collaboration aims to discover new insights into the microbiome’s role in pancreatic cancer and identify potential biomarkers that can enhance the PancAlert screening test’s efficacy.
Mainz Biomed’s Commitment to Cancer Detection
Mainz Biomed is already at the forefront of cancer detection with its flagship product, ColoAlert®, a highly effective and user-friendly diagnostic test for colorectal cancer.
The company is currently commercializing ColoAlert® in select international territories and has initiated a U.S. Pivotal Clinical Study (ReconAAsense) for a colorectal cancer screening test that may incorporate novel gene expression biomarkers.
These biomarkers show promise in identifying advanced adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancer. Mainz Biomed expects results from ongoing studies and plans to begin enrolling participants for ReconAAsense in the second half of 2023.
The collaboration between Mainz Biomed and Microba Life Sciences marks a significant step toward the development of an innovative screening test, PancAlert, for early-stage pancreatic cancer detection.
By combining the expertise of Mainz Biomed in molecular genetics diagnostics and Microba’s proficiency in microbiome analysis, the research project aims to uncover valuable microbiome biomarkers.
Ultimately, the integration of these biomarkers into the PancAlert test could improve the early detection and treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer, addressing an urgent need in the fight against this deadly disease.
