UK-based, Dxcover (previously Clinspec Diagnostics) is a clinical-stage diagnostics company. The startup has developed a liquid biopsy platform – powered by “attenuated total reflectance, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy” “of pan-omic biomarkers” – which analyzes patient blood samples (with the help of AI) to detect the presence (or absence) of cancer. It generates compelling clinical data with high accuracy detection (80-90%) of Stage I & II brain tumors, particularly Glioblastoma Multiforme (the most aggressive type). The firm has also published data with “exceptional potential” on detecting pancreatic cancer as well as 6 other types (lung, colon, breast, prostate, ovarian & kidney) (the 8-types combined, account for 65% of the global cancer burden). Various patents have already been granted in the US for the “Dxcover Platform”, which is also ISO 13485 certified (an internationally recognized quality standard, specific to the medical devices industry). The firm will use the new funding to push for CE IVDR (Europe In Vitro Diagnostics Devices Regulation) marking for its brain cancer test (which is vital, to its commercialization). In parallel, Dxcover will build out its lab & office space in Glasgow (doubling headcount to 40 staff) & establish a US subsidiary “to provide lab services for pivotal clinical studies with clinicians in the country”. Founded in 2019 by Mark Hegarty (CEO) & Prof Matthew J. Baker (CTO) (building on his research at the University of Strathclyde), Dxcover has benefitted from grant funding from the European Innovation Council & the (Scottish) High Growth Spinout program. <Source: businesswire.com, photonics.com, optics.org, scotsman.com, med-technews.com, strath.ac.uk>
