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Oxford BioDynamics develops a high accuracy, discriminating diagnostic test for multiple canine cancers

EpiSwitch Specific Canine Blood test is a new canine multi-cancer diagnostic test based on OBD’s non-invasive EpiSwitch array platform

Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD, the “Company”), a biotechnology company developing precision medicine tests based on the EpiSwitch 3D genomics platform, announces the development of a high-accuracy, discriminating multi-cancer canine diagnostic test for veterinary medicine.

The test was developed in collaboration with Veterinary Referral Associates, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; Animal Cancer Care and Research Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN; and Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

OBD’s EpiSwitch SCB (“Scooby”) test is a well-balanced, highly accurate blood test to specifically diagnose canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), T-zone lymphoma (TZL), hemangiosarcoma (HSA), histiocytic sarcoma, osteosarcoma and canine malignant melanoma, in a powerful single assay format. The test was validated using 3D whole-genome profiling in peripheral blood. It demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for lymphomas and sarcomas as a class (accuracy >80 percent); and high sensitivity and specificity for specific individual indications, with an accuracy >89 percent. The validation results are published in BioRxiv.

There is a critical need in veterinary oncology for an accurate, specific, sensitive, non-invasive (blood) biomarker assay to assess canine oncological indications earlier to better inform therapeutic interventions. Current alternatives for non-invasive canine cancer detection deliver only cancer/no cancer outcome, with low specificity and no distinction between different cancer types. Effective therapeutic intervention requires a definitive identification of a specific cancer type – often a difficult task in current veterinary practice.

unhappy dog gets temperature taken

OBD’s newly published study demonstrates a novel 3D genomic approach that can diagnose six canine cancers and support continuing upgrades for additional diagnostic profiles in a modular manner. The EpiSwitch SCB test promises to help veterinary specialists diagnose the disease, make more informed treatment decisions, minimize or avoid unnecessary toxicity, and efficiently manage costs and resources.

EpiSwitch SCB will be made available to a select group of vets, who will generate real-world utility data to further validate the test. The commercialisation of the EpiSwitch ECB test is expected to be through a partnership or out-licensing arrangement with an organisation with an existing presence in the pet healthcare market.

Dr Sara Fritz, Veterinary Referral Associates, Gaithersburg MD, USA, said: “My first use of the EpiSwitch SCB test helped navigate a very complex case of canine cancer relapse in the absence of options from the current standards of care. This test opens possibilities for a quick and reliable diagnosis in the very cases where time is at a premium.”

Professor Jaime Modiano, College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Canecr Cemnter, University of Minnesota, USA said: “The ability to detect the presence of common, life-threatening dog cancers with high accuracy using blood samples provides an improvement over current methods of diagnosis, reducing or eliminating the need for invasive biopsy procedures. I believe that the eventual implementation of these tests also has the potential to enhance the precision and therefore improve the management and outcomes of canine cancer patients.”

Dr Alexandre Akoulitchev, CSO, OBD, said: “EpiSwitch SCB combines all the advantages of EpiSwitch blood-based biomarkers with a novel proprietary multi-choice EpiSwitch array design. Once again, we were determined to translate to practice the full potential of our EpiSwitch technology, this time to tackle a prevalent veterinary challenge in support of our four-legged friends.”

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