ASX-listed Proteomics International Laboratories has published breakthrough clinical results for its PromarkerEso blood test, demonstrating exceptional accuracy in detecting oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a deadly cancer often linked to chronic acid reflux that affects up to 20% of Western populations.
The 259-patient study, conducted across Australia and the United States and published in the peer-reviewed journal Proteomes, showed the test could detect 91.4% of patients with the heartburn-related cancer while correctly identifying 98.9% of people without the disease. This performance translates to an Area Under Curve (AUC) measurement of 0.98, significantly outperforming many existing cancer screening tests.
Superior Performance Compared to Established Tests
For comparison, the widely used Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test for prostate cancer has an AUC of just 0.68. Medical standards consider an AUC greater than 0.7 as offering acceptable discrimination, while above 0.9 is considered outstanding, positioning PromarkerEso as a potentially transformative diagnostic tool.
The test uses a patented combination of four blood-based glycoproteins that act as a protein fingerprint, coupled with patient age and body mass index. Results are delivered through a traffic light-style risk scoring system ranging from green for low risk, amber for moderate risk, and red for high risk, flagging at-risk patients for further endoscopic testing.
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Need
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma represents one of the world's most overlooked yet deadly cancers. Diagnoses have surged sixfold globally over the past 40 years, making it one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. The disease ranks seventh in cancer-related deaths globally, with less than 20% of patients surviving five years.
Current detection methods rely on invasive endoscopy procedures that cost approximately US$2,750 per procedure in the United States. Despite this rigorous approach, up to 90% of cases go undetected, highlighting the critical need for improved early detection methods.
"The published results represent a major advancement in our mission to transform the lives of people living with chronic acid reflux," said Dr Richard Lipscombe, Proteomics International managing director. "PromarkerEso has the potential to revolutionise how doctors manage the risk of oesophageal cancer - offering a standard blood test that could reduce reliance on invasive procedures and improve early detection rates."
World-Class Advisory Board Assembled
To support global commercialization, Proteomics has assembled a clinical advisory board of seven leading specialists in gastroenterology and cancer diagnostics. The board includes Professor Hugh Barr, a world-leading UK-based oesophageal surgeon and chief investigator of the landmark Barrett's Oesophagus Surveillance Study, along with Professor Krish Ragunath, a specialist in oesophageal management.
Other members include Dutch pioneer Professor Jacques Bergman, who specializes in oesophageal cancer imaging and biomarker development, US-based thoracic surgeon Professor Andrew Chang, Mayo Clinic AI researcher and gastroenterologist Professor Prasad Iyer, keyhole surgery specialist Dr Daniela Molena, and pathologist Dr Robert Odze.
Professor Barr endorsed the breakthrough, stating that PromarkerEso's early detection capability will ensure curative treatment for the disease.
Commercial Rollout and Market Opportunity
PromarkerEso's Australian commercial rollout is already underway, with international expansion to follow shortly. The company has secured patents across Australia, China, and Europe, with additional applications pending globally.
To support ongoing trials and marketing campaigns, Proteomics announced a successful $12 million capital raising through the issue of 32.5 million new shares at 37 cents each with half an attached option.
The test's scalability and strong profit margins position it as an attractive prospect for global healthcare providers, addressing a multi-billion-dollar market with significant unmet medical need. The company can leverage its existing direct-to-consumer and GP-targeted pathways already established for other Promarker diagnostics.
"Their expertise and clinical insights will be invaluable as we introduce PromarkerEso to global markets and strive to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people living with chronic acid reflux," Dr Lipscombe said regarding the advisory board's role in the commercialization strategy.
