Can liquid biopsy be used to identify tumor markers? Servier has filed a new patent for this very purpose, and the exclusive rights have been entrusted to METHYS Dx, a French start-up with whom we have a long-standing partnership. This breakthrough is particularly targeted to patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Once again, this achievement demonstrates the importance of combining expertise to accelerate research.
A fruitful collaboration in liquid biopsy
METHYS Dx, a French start-up specializing in liquid biopsy, has obtained a patent license for the application of its technology to patients with non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (NSCLC). This is the start-up’s 4th licensed patent, in addition to the first three for biomarkers targeting pancreatic, endometrial, and gastric cancer.
Non-small cell adenocarcinoma (or cancer) is one of the many forms of lung cancer. Originating in the cells on the outer surface of the lung, it is distinguished from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) by the way the tumor cells appear under the microscope.
A long-term academic collaboration
In 2016, Servier teamed up with Université Paris Cité to develop a method for identifying biomarkers in lung cancer with liquid biopsy. Spearheaded by researcher Valérie Taly, and later giving rise to METHYS Dx, the work focuses primarily on the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic follow-up of patients using an approach that is less invasive than tissue biopsies.
“This partnership is a key part of our strategy in Servier Group to further develop the use of liquid biopsy methods to monitor cancer patients through a simple blood test.”
Nolwen Guigal-Stephan, Head of Clinical Biomarkers Development, Servier
Servier subsequently contributed to the development of METHYS Dx’s business model by co-financing a market study with Erganeo, a French technology transfer company. Erganeo specializes in protecting disruptive high-social-impact innovations from Paris-based research labs prior to their transfer to an industrial company or the creation of a start-up. By creating a start-up, this technology can be made available to all patients.
“Our collaboration with the Servier R&D Institute has been a major driving force in our strategy to develop and commercialize our work. The quality and efficiency of our interactions with Servier have been key to the success of this partnership, which has involved a dynamic, highly motivated team spanning several years. With the markers identified in this project, we should be able to develop a high-performance kit in terms of both precision and sensitivity, thereby providing a new tool for monitoring lung cancer patients .”
Valérie Taly, President and CSO of METHYS Dx and CNRS Research Director
At Servier, open innovation has a special place. We firmly believe that on-going work and communication between complementary public and private healthcare stakeholders is the best way to achieve and deliver innovation rapidly for the benefit of patients.
Our Research & Development Institute in Paris-Saclay, one of the world’s top eight innovation clusters, is a testament to this commitment. By bringing together our Group’s innovative potential, a powerful ecosystem, and a scientific center of excellence, we will be able to fast-track the discovery of drug candidates to benefit patients.
Liquid biopsy: An innovative test with clear benefits for patients
Liquid biopsy: A non-invasive procedure
Liquid biopsy is used to determine the diagnosis of a cancer, as well as its molecular characteristics, and thus the choice of the most appropriate treatments.
A liquid biopsy groups together all blood tests used to establish a cancer diagnosis. In contrast to a tissue (or tumor) biopsy, this type of procedure is done by means of a blood test and is therefore non-invasive for patients.
The advantages of liquid biopsy
Liquid biopsy not only allows for a diagnosis to be made, but also for the disease to be monitored. Patients are required to undergo regular check-ups to monitor tumor progress.
Liquid biopsies provide the following advantages: