MDxHealth today announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing deal with Ghent University for its proprietary molecular diagnostic visualization technology that will allow the visual detection of epigenetic changes associated with cancer in both tissue and liquid specimens. In a separate agreement, MDxHealth has also joined forces with the University to leverage the licensed technology for the Company’s current and future in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits and laboratory developed tests (LDTs).
Under the terms of the license agreement, MDxHealth has exclusive use of Ghent University’s diagnostic visualization technology for urological cancers. Together, through their expanded research collaboration, MDxHealth and Ghent University scientists will initially focus on validating cancer-specific biomarkers for prostate and bladder cancer.
“We are very excited to continue our long-standing and collaborative relationship with Ghent University,” said Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. “The exclusively licensed technology and R&D collaboration has the potential to significantly enhance our current tests and ultimately provide a platform to expand into other difficult to diagnose cancers in the future.”
The ground-breaking, diagnostic technology invented at Ghent University employs biomarker-specific probes in a methylation in situ hybridization (MISH) platform to directly target and visualize methylation changes associated with cancer in a patient’s DNA. The MISH platform uses chromogens and fluorescent dyes that make the targeted biomarkers glow in a different color if they are methylated. This is the first time that methylation patterns can be visualized at a molecular level within a histological context.
“It is our privilege to join efforts with MDxHealth, pioneer in epigenetic biomarker assay development, to implement this exciting new technology.” said Prof. Davy Vanden Broeck, Department of Uro-gynaecology at Ghent University.
