ONTRACK Biomedical develops urine test for prostate screening

(CONNECT) Biochemist Irina Banzola and urologist Daniel Eberli from the University of Zurich (UZH) have developed a new urine test for diagnosing prostate cancer. According to an article published by the university, this test is designed to detect typical proteins that are excreted from the prostate in the urine. The researchers assume that the test they have developed can rule out the presence of carcinoma with a high degree of probability. If the test shows a positive result, further examinations using imaging procedures or biopsies are required. Another advantage of the new test is that no further tests are required if the result is negative and no further funds are tied up.

"Our test has three cut-off values with a very high sensitivity, i.e. if the test is negative, in 99.9 percent of cases the patients really don't have a tumor," Daniel Eberli, Director of the Urology Clinic at the University Hospital Zurich, is quoted as saying in the press release. "The results are displayed in a simple way with colors: green, orange and red. Green means the man has no tumor, orange means he may have a low-grade tumor and should discuss this with his doctor, red means he should undergo a biopsy."

In Switzerland, 7000 men are currently diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, with 1000 deaths at the same time. Broad and complication-free screening could have a preventive effect and reduce the complication rate. In order to bring a mass-produced product to market, the two researchers and other specialists founded the spin-off ONTRACK Biomedical, based at the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich. "We will probably enter into a partnership with a larger diagnostics company, as they have strong structures for marketing. Ultimately, the aim is to give as many men as possible access to the tests and thus reduce the mortality rate," explains Irina Banzola, CEO of ONTRACK Biomedical. ce/ww