Post by icemandios on May 11, 2023 13:15:21 GMT
Aspira Women's Health Signs An Exclusive Licensing Agreement With Dana Farber Cancer Institute For The Development Of MicroRNA-Based Ovarian Cancer Test
New blood-based test could use microRNA alone or in combination with other biomarkers for earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer
AUSTIN, Texas, May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspira Women’s Health Inc. (Nasdaq: AWH), a bio-analytical based women’s health company focused on gynecologic disease, today announced it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (“DFCI”) for the design and development of a new noninvasive miRNA-based ovarian cancer diagnostic tool. The new test will utilize circulating microRNAs, either alone or in conjunction with proteins or other factors, to identify ovarian cancer in women with adnexal masses. It will be offered to healthcare providers as an expansion of the Company’s OvaSuite porfolio.
The new test will utilize a proprietary DFCI microRNA ovarian cancer signature in conjunction with Aspira’s proprietary AI/machine learning algorithms to assess ovarian cancer risk. Micro-RNAs, a type of RNA that originates in the cell nucleus with a small amount leaking into the bloodstream, are easily isolated from the blood and can be amplified for detection with PCR-based or next generation sequencing technologies.
“Diagnosing ovarian cancer at its earliest stages is crucial to improving survival outcomes,” said Dr. Ryan Phan, Aspira’s Chief Scientific and Operating Officer. “MicroRNA offers tremendous opportunity to make this a reality as it appears earlier compared with other testing targets, like circulating tumor cells or proteins. Use of microRNA may help address a significant unmet diagnostic need in ovarian cancer.”
Nicole Sandford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspira Women’s Health stated, “We are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of development with this prestigious partner as we develop and expand upon our OvaSuite of products. Adding this new non-invasive, molecular based risk assessment tool to our porfolio will be another significant step forward in arming physicians with information to determine an appropriate treatment pathway.”
The agreement is in addition to the current sponsored research agreement between Aspira and a consortium of institutions led by DCFI for the development of a noninvasive test to aid in the detection of endometriosis using circulating microRNAs and proteins.
About Aspira Women’s Health Inc.
Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is transforming women’s gynecological health with the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative testing options for women of all races and ethnicities, starting with ovarian cancer.
Our ovarian cancer risk assessment portfolio is marketed to healthcare providers as OvaSuite SM . OvaWatch SM is a non-invasive, blood-based test intended for use in the initial clinical assessment of ovarian cancer risk in women with benign or indeterminate adnexal masses for which surgical intervention may be either premature or unnecessary. With a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%, OvaWatch allows physicians to confidently rule out ovarian cancer malignancy and choose the appropriate clinical management for the right patient at the right time. Ova1Plus ® combines our FDA-cleared products, Ova1 ® and Overa ® , to detect risk of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses planned for surgery.
EndoCheck™, Aspira’s first-of-its-kind non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis, is currently in development. Visit our website for more information at www.aspirawh.com .