NetScientific PLC (LON:NSCI) portfolio company Vortex Biosciences has initiated two clinical research studies with Californian university UCLA in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
These studies are designed to provide proof of principle that biomarkers used for tumour biopsises can be adapted for circulating tumour cells (CTCs).
This first 60 patient study is intended to determine if cancer causing EGFR mutations can be identified in CTCs isolated and collected using Vortex’sVTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System from NSCLC patient samples.
The second 100 NSCLC patient study is intended to show CTCs isolated using the VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System are compatible with the PD-L1 biomarker, which can help identify patients suitable for immunotherapy treatment.
Francois Martelet, who is chairman of Vortex a well as being NetScientific’s chief executive, said said: “These two proof of principle clinical research studies, in collaboration with UCLA, are a vital step in clinically validating and thus commercialising the company’s first product, the VTX-1 system.”