NEW YORK – Proteomics International said it has signed a material transfer agreement with the University of Oxford to acquire roughly 600 patient plasma samples for an endometriosis study.
The company said it will use the samples to further validate its PromarkerEndo proteomic test for endometriosis. The test is intended as an early screening test to help rule in or rule out the disease and determine if more invasive diagnostic testing is needed.
This validation work follows a previous study in which the test was used in more than 900 patients and a separate clinical validation study in an independent Australian cohort.
Proteomics International plans to complete the analysis of the University of Oxford samples in the next four months. The company is also working to streamline the PromarkerEndo assay to make it suitable for clinical use. It is targeting the ISO 15189 international standard and plans to offer it as a laboratory-developed test in the US.
"We are excited to be able to provide Proteomics International with these plasma samples to assist in the development of a noninvasive, more accessible, and cost-efficient test for endometriosis," said Christian Becker, codirector of the Oxford Endometriosis Care Centre. "It is essential that work continues to shorten diagnostic wait times for endometriosis in order to improve health outcomes and overall quality of life for those with the condition."
Richard Lipscombe, managing director of Proteomics International, said in a statement that the agreement is another positive step toward bringing the test to the clinic, adding that the samples "will allow us to verify the clinical performance of the PromarkerEndo test."