Abcodia

Last updated

Abcodia
Company typePrivate
Industry Biotechnology
FoundedSeptember 2010
Headquarters,
United Kingdom  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Key people
CEO
Julie Barnes,
COO
Chris Hodkinson,
Director of Science
Wendy Alderton
Director of Business Development
Mike Fisher
Chair
Andy Richards
Non-Exec Director and Principal Investigator for UKCTOCS.
Ian Jacobs
Non-Exec Directors
Andrew Elder and Claire Hooper
Website www.abcodia.com

Abcodia is a company that focuses on biomarkers for cancer screening. Its aim is to discover biomarkers that can be used for the early detection of cancer.

Contents

Disease focus

Abcodia's primary focus is the study of biomarkers for cancer.

Cancer screening

On 18 September 2013 Abcodia announced that it had entered into an agreement for an exclusive license for the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA), a test studied for screening of ovarian cancer. The use of this test is not recommended by the FDA as there is no evidence it is either safe or effective. [1]

History

Abcodia is a spin-out from University College London and was founded in 2010. UCL granted Abcodia the exclusive commercialisation rights to a serum collection created by clinical scientists at the Institute for Women's Health at UCL. The serum biobank was formed as part of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening UKCTOCS, which was led by Professor Ian Jacobs and Professor Usha Menon. [2] [3] [4]

Awards

December 2012, Abcodia won four prizes at the UK Startup Awards 2012 annual awards: Angel or VC-backed Business of the Year, Innovative Business of the Year, and Business Woman of the Year for its CEO Dr Julie Barnes. It also won the overall NatWest Startups Business of the Year for its work in cancer screening. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovarian cancer</span> Cancer originating in or on the ovary

Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different cell types including epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. When these cells become abnormal, they have the ability to divide and form tumors. These cells can also invade or spread to other parts of the body. When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms. Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses. These symptoms may include bloating, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, constipation, and loss of appetite, among others. Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mucin-16</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

Mucin-16(MUC-16) also known as Ovarian cancer-related tumor marker CA125 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MUC16 gene. MUC-16 is a member of the mucin family glycoproteins. MUC-16 has found application as a tumor marker or biomarker that may be elevated in the blood of some patients with specific types of cancers, most notably ovarian cancer, or other conditions that are benign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irofulven</span> Chemical compound

Irofulven or 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene is an experimental antitumor agent. It belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gynecologic ultrasonography</span> Application of medical ultrasonography to the female pelvic organs

Gynecologic ultrasonography or gynecologic sonography refers to the application of medical ultrasonography to the female pelvic organs as well as the bladder, the adnexa, and the recto-uterine pouch. The procedure may lead to other medically relevant findings in the pelvis.This technique is useful to detect myomas or mullerian malformations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personalized medicine</span> Medical model that tailors medical practices to the individual patient

Personalized medicine, also referred to as precision medicine, is a medical model that separates people into different groups—with medical decisions, practices, interventions and/or products being tailored to the individual patient based on their predicted response or risk of disease. The terms personalized medicine, precision medicine, stratified medicine and P4 medicine are used interchangeably to describe this concept though some authors and organisations use these expressions separately to indicate particular nuances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Targeted therapy</span> Type of therapy

Targeted therapy or molecularly targeted therapy is one of the major modalities of medical treatment (pharmacotherapy) for cancer, others being hormonal therapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy. As a form of molecular medicine, targeted therapy blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific targeted molecules needed for carcinogenesis and tumor growth, rather than by simply interfering with all rapidly dividing cells. Because most agents for targeted therapy are biopharmaceuticals, the term biologic therapy is sometimes synonymous with targeted therapy when used in the context of cancer therapy. However, the modalities can be combined; antibody-drug conjugates combine biologic and cytotoxic mechanisms into one targeted therapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abagovomab</span> Chemical compound

Abagovomab is a mouse anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody whose variable epitope mirrors a tumour antigen (CA-125) highly expressed in the epithelial ovarian cancer. Abagovomab does not bind directly to CA-125, but it works as a "surrogate" antigen, enabling the immune system to identify and attack tumour cells displaying the CA-125 protein. Through this, it is hoped that the body's immune system may be able to combat any remaining individual tumour cells and thus prevent recurrence of the disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cancer screening</span> Method to detect cancer

The objective of cancer screening is to detect cancer before symptoms appear, involving various methods such as blood tests, urine tests, DNA tests, and medical imaging. The purpose of screening is early cancer detection, to make the cancer easier to treat and extending life expectancy. As of 2023, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olaparib</span> Chemical compound (cancer therapy drug)

Olaparib, sold under the brand name Lynparza, is a medication for the maintenance treatment of BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer in adults. It is a PARP inhibitor, inhibiting poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an enzyme involved in DNA repair. It acts against cancers in people with hereditary BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, which include some ovarian, breast, and prostate cancers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PARP inhibitor</span> Pharmacological enzyme inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases

PARP inhibitors are a group of pharmacological inhibitors of the enzyme poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rucaparib</span> Chemical compound

Rucaparib, sold under the brand name Rubraca, is a PARP inhibitor used as an anti-cancer agent. Rucaparib is a first-in-class pharmaceutical drug targeting the DNA repair enzyme poly-ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1). It is taken by mouth.

Geniom RT Analyzer is an instrument used in molecular biology for diagnostic testing. The Geniom RT Analyzer utilizes the dynamic nature of tissue microRNA levels as a biomarker for disease progression. The Geniom analyzer incorporates microfluidic and biochip microarray technology in order to quantify microRNAs via a Microfluidic Primer Extension Assay (MPEA) technique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintedanib</span> Chemical compound

Nintedanib, sold under the brand names Ofev and Vargatef, is an oral medication used for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and along with other medications for some types of non-small-cell lung cancer.

A liquid biopsy, also known as fluid biopsy or fluid phase biopsy, is the sampling and analysis of non-solid biological tissue, primarily blood. Like traditional biopsy, this type of technique is mainly used as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for diseases such as cancer, with the added benefit of being largely non-invasive. Liquid biopsies may also be used to validate the efficiency of a cancer treatment drug by taking multiple samples in the span of a few weeks. The technology may also prove beneficial for patients after treatment to monitor relapse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Jacobs (oncologist)</span>

Ian Jacobs is an academic, medical doctor, gynaecological oncologist, charity founder and university leader from the UK, with dual British and Australian citizenship.

Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, also known as anti-VEGF therapy or medication, is the use of medications that block vascular endothelial growth factor. This is done in the treatment of certain cancers and in age-related macular degeneration. They can involve monoclonal antibodies such as bevacizumab, antibody derivatives such as ranibizumab (Lucentis), or orally-available small molecules that inhibit the tyrosine kinases stimulated by VEGF: sunitinib, sorafenib, axitinib, and pazopanib.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-grade serous carcinoma</span> Medical condition

High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is a type of tumour that arises from the serous epithelial layer in the abdominopelvic cavity and is mainly found in the ovary. HGSCs make up the majority of ovarian cancer cases and have the lowest survival rates. HGSC is distinct from low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC) which arises from ovarian tissue, is less aggressive and is present in stage I ovarian cancer where tumours are localised to the ovary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filamin A interacting protein 1 like</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Filamin A interacting protein 1 like is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FILIP1L gene.

Young blood transfusion refers to transfusing blood specifically from a young person into an older one with the intention of creating a health benefit. The scientific community currently views the practice as essentially pseudoscientific, with comparisons to snake oil. There are also concerns of harm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in 2019, cautioned "consumers against receiving young donor plasma infusions" stating that they are an "unproven treatment".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Choueiri</span> American medical oncologist

Toni K. Choueiri is a Lebanese American medical oncologist and researcher. He is the Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. His work has led to the establishment of several novel drugs and prognostic factors in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Choueiri also co-established the International metastatic database Consortium with Daniel Heng. His biomarker work has shed light on complex immunogenomics mechanisms contributing to response and resistance to targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

References

  1. "Ovarian Cancer Screening Tests: Safety Communication - FDA Recommends Against Use". FDA. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. Burnell, M.; Gentry-Maharaj, A.; Ryan, A.; Apostolidou, S.; Habib, M.; Kalsi, J.; Skates, S.; Parmar, M.; Seif, M. W.; Amso, N. N.; Godfrey, K.; Oram, D.; Herod, J.; Williamson, K.; Jenkins, H.; Mould, T.; Woolas, R.; Murdoch, J.; Dobbs, S.; Leeson, S.; Cruickshank, D.; Campbell, S.; Fallowfield, L.; Jacobs, I.; Menon, U. (2011). "Impact on mortality and cancer incidence rates of using random invitation from population registers for recruitment to trials". Trials. 12: 61. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-12-61 . PMC   3058013 . PMID   21362184.
  3. Fallowfield, L; Fleissig, A; Barrett, J; Menon, U; Jacobs, I; Kilkerr, J; Farewell, V; Ukctocs, Trialists (2010). "Awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors, beliefs and attitudes towards screening: Baseline survey of 21 715 women participating in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening". British Journal of Cancer. 103 (4): 454–61. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605809. PMC   2939792 . PMID   20648018.
  4. Jacobs, I.; Gentry-Maharaj, A.; Burnell, M.; Manchanda, R.; Singh, N.; Sharma, A.; Ryan, A.; Seif, M. W.; Amso, N. N.; Turner, G.; Brunell, C.; Fletcher, G.; Rangar, R.; Ford, K.; Godfrey, K.; Lopes, A.; Oram, D.; Herod, J.; Williamson, K.; Scott, I.; Jenkins, H.; Mould, T.; Woolas, R.; Murdoch, J.; Dobbs, S.; Leeson, S.; Cruickshank, D.; Skates, S. J.; Fallowfield, L.; Parmar, M. (2011). "Sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound screening for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women: A case-control study within the UKCTOCS cohort" (PDF). The Lancet Oncology. 12 (1): 38–48. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70268-0 . PMID   21147030.
  5. "NatWest Startups Business of the Year 2012: Abcodia". Startups.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2014.