Neil Banerjee
Chronic non-communicable diseases pose a significant threat to global health. The founders of PredOmix, a pioneering health tech start-up, recognised the urgent need for the early detection and prevention of these diseases. Led by Dr. Kanury V S Rao, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), PredOmix embarked on a mission to develop innovative technologies to revolutionise the field of preventive healthcare. With a strong focus on cancer, PredOmix has achieved remarkable milestones and is reshaping the landscape of early-stage disease diagnosis. Through its ground-breaking advancements and integration of artificial intelligence, PredOmix aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of disease worldwide.
A commitment to early disease detection
“Chronic diseases are emerging as a global pandemic, and early detection is crucial for effective management,” says Dr. Kanury V S Rao. The company’s founders, renowned academics with extensive research experience in disease biology, established PredOmix to address the challenges associated with the early-stage detection of chronic diseases. Recognising the asymptomatic nature of many diseases, PredOmix set out to develop innovative technologies that could enable early detection and improve patient outcomes. With a specific focus on cancer, PredOmix aims to reduce mortality rates by up to 70 per cent through early detection.
Milestones in preventive healthcare and disease diagnosis
PredOmix has achieved significant milestones in the field of early disease diagnosis, paving the way for preventive healthcare. Driven by their commitment to innovation, the company has developed a novel technology by leveraging serum metabolomics.
“The metabolome provides a snapshot of the body’s biochemical activity, and analysing it can yield disease-specific signatures,” Rao adds. PredOmix’s deep learning pipeline, consisting of multiple machine learning algorithms, detects cancer-specific metabolite signatures and identifies the type of cancer present.
The company’s first major milestone was the development of the OncoVeryx-F test, which enables the concurrent detection of breast, endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers with an accuracy exceeding 98 per cent.
“This laboratory-developed test has been launched in the Indian market, setting a new standard for early-stage cancer detection. PredOmix’s most recent milestone involved adapting their technology to detect a total of 32 cancers in both men and women, significantly expanding the scope and utility of their test,” he points out.
Transforming women’s health: Cancer detection breakthrough
Creativity lies at the heart of PredOmix’s culture. Dr. Rao emphasises the importance of an environment that nurtures independent thinking and allows team members to pursue their ideas.
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test plays a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer.
“Our OncoVeryx-F test directly detects the presence of cervical cancer, even in its earliest stages,” Rao tells us.
In the case of breast cancer, PredOmix’s OncoVeryx-F test demonstrates an accuracy of over 98 per cent for detecting Stage-0 and Stage-I breast cancers, enabling early intervention and improved outcomes.
“Early detection through this test translates into a 5-year survival rate exceeding 90 per cent, greatly benefiting patients,” he underlines.
In India, breast, lung, ovarian, cervical, and colorectal cancers are the five most common cancers among women and PredOmix’s ongoing clinical trials encompass all these cancers.
Through their 32-cancer detection test, PredOmix aims to empower women with early-stage cancer detection, thereby reducing cancer-related mortality rates across India.
Revolutionising cancer screening with AI-driven analysis
PredOmix recognises the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer screening. It integrates AI algorithms into its screening processes, leveraging the power of metabolome analysis.
“Our AI algorithms analyse metabolome data to detect cancer-specific signatures and determine the type of cancer present,” Rao explains.
This AI-driven approach enhances the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnosis, facilitating personalised treatment strategies. By combining AI with their groundbreaking technologies, PredOmix is at the forefront of the next generation of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“The AI algorithms that we have developed analyse the metabolome data that we generate and first determine whether a metabolite signature corresponding to the development of cancer is present. Following this, in cancer-positive cases, the algorithms further analyse these signatures to determine the type of cancer that it corresponds to,” he adds.
“Colorectal cancer is getting increasingly prevalent among young adults, and PredOmix aims to address the challenges associated with early detection and diagnosis in this age group. While the exact causes of this trend remain unclear, lifestyle factors such as sedentary behaviour, obesity, poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking are believed to be the factors behind this,” he further says.
PredOmix has adapted its test to cover a total of 32 cancers, providing a non-invasive and accessible screening option. Clinical trials are underway to validate the efficacy of this test, offering hope for early-stage colorectal cancer detection.
Pancreatic cancer’s high mortality rate necessitates early detection and management as well. Recognising the need for improvement in this area, PredOmix has developed a breakthrough test that includes early-stage pancreatic cancer detection with exceptional accuracy. By releasing this test into the market, PredOmix aims to facilitate the early detection and improved management of pancreatic cancer.
Future plans and upcoming innovations
PredOmix is committed to expanding its technology’s applications beyond cancer diagnosis.
Rao says, “We plan to explore additional dimensions, including predicting treatment response and monitoring chemotherapy.”
By enhancing their test’s capabilities, PredOmix aims to personalise treatment regimens and predict the likelihood of relapse in cured patients. With a vision of continuous innovation and advancement, PredOmix is poised to transform the field of health tech in the coming years.
“Based on our research over the past few years, it has become evident to me that the core technology that we have developed is powerful and has useful potential in other domains of both diagnosis and prognosis. While our immediate objective is to successfully complete the clinical trials and release the 32-cancer detection product into the market, our longer-term pursuits will explore the possibility of layering additional dimensions onto this test,” he adds.
PredOmix’s journey in the field of health tech is marked by groundbreaking innovations and a commitment to early disease detection. Founded with the aim of revolutionising preventive healthcare, PredOmix’s novel technologies and integration of AI are transforming the landscape of early-stage disease diagnosis. With their comprehensive 32-cancer detection test, PredOmix empowers individuals by enabling early intervention and improving patient outcomes. As it continues to push the boundaries, PredOmix is set to make significant contributions to the field of health tech, reducing the burden of disease and improving lives worldwide.
“At one level, the test will include a prediction of whether a newly diagnosed cancer patient will respond or not respond to the first line of therapy. Additionally, our approach can also be further developed to monitor patients undergoing chemotherapy, and to also predict the likelihood of relapse in cured patients,” says Rao as he signs off.
