Irish medtech firm seeks to strengthen evidence base for prognostic technology in US market.
OncoAssure, the Dublin-based precision oncology diagnostics company, has signed a research collaboration agreement with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York to conduct a validation study of its prostate cancer prognostic test.
The study will use curated clinical samples from Mount Sinai and will be led by Ash Tewari, professor and system chair of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine.
“We aim to generate additional evidence supporting the potential of the OncoAssure Prostate Cancer Test to both reduce unnecessary interventions and provide critical lead time for treating the most aggressive tumours”
Dr Tewari will work alongside cancer researchers Sujit S. Nair and Dimple Chakravarty to analyse biopsy tissue from men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer, as defined by US National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.
The primary aim is to assess the prognostic value of the OncoAssure Prostate Test and its ability to add predictive insight beyond standard clinical and pathological information. The test, launched in the US last April at the American Urology Association meeting, is available as a CLIA-certified laboratory service.
Innovative tech
Des O’Leary, chief executive and co-founder of OncoAssure, said the collaboration marked an important step in building clinical evidence for the technology.
“By applying our innovative OncoAssure Prostate technology in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine, we aim to generate additional evidence supporting the potential of the OncoAssure Prostate Cancer Test to both reduce unnecessary interventions and provide critical lead time for treating the most aggressive tumours,” he said.
Professor Tewari said Mount Sinai was committed to rigorous evaluation of emerging diagnostic tools before they enter routine care.
“Our collaboration with OncoAssure is focused on generating high-quality evidence on how precision diagnostics may best support clinicians in personalising treatment decisions, including efforts to reduce overtreatment and more reliably identify aggressive cancers,” he said.
The OncoAssure Prostate Test combines genomic insights with clinical data, incorporating the widely used CAPRA score to integrate seamlessly into existing care pathways. Developed using a process that identifies ‘Master Driver’ genes linked to disease progression, the test aims to give physicians and patients a clearer picture of prognosis and treatment options.
OncoAssure, headquartered at NovaUCD in Dublin, was co-founded in 2021 by O’Leary and Professor William Gallagher. The company previously collaborated with Lund University in Sweden on earlier studies of its technology.
Main image: Des O’Leary, chief executive and co-founder of OncoAssure
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