Cancer, one of the most life-threatening diseases, is projected to affect over 35 million people worldwide in 2050 — 77% more than the estimated 20 million cases in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer survivors globally reached 53.5 million, and the reoccurrence rate of the disease varies between 15 and 100%, depending on the cancer type and stage and each patient’s situation. Despite this, the world currently lacks effective solutions for diagnoses to help curb recurrence.
Enter OneCell Diagnostics, a genomics-based startup in precision oncology, that aims to help cancer survivors limit reoccurrence instances through its proprietary cell biopsy technology.
The startup, which has served nearly 10,000 patients in India and is looking to replicate its early Indian success in the U.S., has developed its in-house blood-based biopsy testing that helps detect cancer’s reoccurrence through circulating tumor cells. This is unlike the widely used cancer detection methods, including PET CT scan, MRI, and tissue-based diagnosis.
OneCell has secured an IP to capture and isolate the circulating tumor cell from a 10ml blood draw. A phlebotomist visits the patient’s home to collect the blood drawn in two tubes: one for detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and the other for detecting circulating tumor cells. These tubes are then sent to a nearby OnCell lab, where the blood sample goes through an analysis using a combination of scientific ways and AI to predict reoccurrence, which it calls True-Single-Cell-Multi-omics. The startup combines the circulating tumor cell-DNA with its RNA and cell surface protein testing.
This helps provide better diagnosis, with at least 100 times more information than the current liquid biopsy testing, which largely revolves around cell-free DNA and ctDNA, said co-founder and CEO Mohan Uttarwar.
The startup has also developed an app called iCare, which works as a precision oncology console to help onc …