INOVIQ Limited has secured exclusive worldwide licensing rights to novel exosomal biomarker intellectual property from UniQuest, the commercialisation arm of The University of Queensland, marking a pivotal advancement in the company's ovarian cancer diagnostic program. The agreement enables INOVIQ to integrate the University's biomarker discoveries with its proprietary EXO-NET exosome isolation platform and machine-learning algorithm to develop the EXO-OC test for early ovarian cancer detection.
Breakthrough Performance in Clinical Testing
The EXO-OC test addresses one of oncology's greatest unmet needs: reliable early detection of ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. The blood-based diagnostic isolates exosomes from patient samples and analyzes RNA and protein biomarkers in combination with CA125, a known ovarian cancer marker, through an AI-enhanced algorithm.
In a blind study involving 500 samples, the test achieved remarkable performance metrics with 77% sensitivity at 99.6% specificity across all disease stages. Most significantly, the test demonstrated 100% sensitivity in Stage I and II patients, representing a potential breakthrough for early-stage detection when treatment outcomes are most favorable.
Clinical studies are currently in progress to validate performance across different ovarian cancer subtypes, racial groups, and risk categories, with INOVIQ targeting Laboratory Developed Test readiness in the US by late 2026.
Commercial Strategy and Market Entry
INOVIQ has already initiated commercial discussions with major clinical laboratories and diagnostic companies to accelerate adoption of EXO-OC in the US market. The company's strategy involves first launching the test as an LDT before pursuing In Vitro Diagnostic registrations in global markets.
"Securing global rights to these biomarkers is a pivotal milestone, enabling the development of a potential best-in-class exosome-based test for early ovarian cancer detection," said Dr Leearne Hinch, CEO of INOVIQ. "With unmatched performance to date, our EXO-OC test has the potential to change the paradigm in ovarian cancer detection and drive significant value creation for shareholders."
Licensing Terms and Intellectual Property Protection
The intellectual property covers a patent application filed by The University of Queensland in May 2025, protecting novel combinations of protein and RNA biomarkers for exosome-based ovarian cancer testing. Under the licensing agreement, INOVIQ will pay UniQuest A$25,000 upfront, up to A$360,000 in regulatory and commercial milestones, and tiered royalties of up to 2.5% on net sales.
The agreement ensures INOVIQ retains exclusive rights to the technology for at least ten years after first commercial sale or until patent expiry, providing a clear commercial runway for the company's ovarian cancer program.
Strategic Partnership and Scientific Collaboration
The partnership extends beyond licensing to include direct collaboration with Professor Carlos Salomon Gallo, a leading international expert in exosome biology, further strengthening the scientific foundation for the EXO-OC program. Dr Dean Moss, CEO of UniQuest, described the agreement as the outcome of a long-standing collaboration between UQ researchers and INOVIQ.
"We're excited about partnering with INOVIQ to advance the exosome-based screening test towards commercialisation and meaningful clinical impact," said Dr Moss, highlighting the potential for the collaboration to deliver an ovarian cancer screening test that could save lives through earlier diagnosis and intervention.
The licensing deal consolidates INOVIQ's position in exosome-based diagnostics, with the company's broader portfolio including commercial-stage exosome isolation products, clinical-stage diagnostics for ovarian and breast cancers, and a pre-clinical CAR-exosome therapeutic program for solid tumours.
