Telo Genomics Corp. (TSXV: TELO) (OTCQB: TDSGF) announced today that the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has accepted its abstract submission regarding a concordance analysis between blood and marrow samples using the TeloView® Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) methodology. The research will be featured as an online publication at the ASCO Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 30 - June 3, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
The acceptance highlights the potential significance of Telo's proprietary technology in addressing critical challenges in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment monitoring. MRD is defined as the small number of cancer cells that remain in the body after treatment, with their stratification providing crucial information for clinical decision-making.
"We are really pleased to have our abstract accepted by ASCO, it indicates the novelty and importance of our TeloView® based MRD applications and the impact we hope to have on patients and physicians as they manage MM patients post-transplantation," said Sabine Mai, Telo's co-Founder.
Advancing Liquid Biopsy Technology for Multiple Myeloma
Telo's ongoing MRD clinical trials with McGill University/Jewish General Hospital have two primary objectives that could lead to the development of two prognostic tests for monitoring myeloma MRD:
- Identify and quantify the number of MRD cells circulating in patients' blood post marrow transplantation
- Profile the isolated circulating MRD cells using Telo's proprietary TeloView® technology to assess disease aggressiveness in each individual MRD cell
Both tests are designed as liquid biopsies, which are less invasive and more easily replicated than traditional diagnostic approaches, positioning them at the forefront of precision medicine.
The timing of this development is particularly significant as the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted unanimously in April 2024 to accept MRD as a clinical endpoint for accelerated approval of new multiple myeloma therapies, potentially paving the way for faster drug approvals.
Multiple Myeloma: A Significant Clinical Challenge
Multiple myeloma remains a formidable blood cancer affecting plasma cells. As the second most common blood cancer, MM sees approximately 35,000 new cases annually in the US, with around 180,000 patients receiving treatment at any given time.
Despite advances in treatment that have increased median survival rates to over five years, MM is still considered incurable. Most patients develop resistance to treatment and relapse within a median of two years, making early identification of these patients a critical clinical need.
The disease is typically preceded by asymptomatic precursors: Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS) and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM). While MGUS carries a steady progression risk of 1% per year, SMM is more heterogeneous, with nearly 40% of patients progressing in the first five years and 15% in the following five years.
Treatment costs can reach as high as $150,000 per patient annually, underscoring the economic impact of this disease alongside its clinical challenges.
Growing Market for MRD Testing
The global MRD testing market is experiencing substantial growth, with projections indicating it could reach USD 4.1 billion by 2032. This expansion reflects the increasing importance of MRD assessment in guiding therapeutic decisions and evaluating treatment responses in oncology.
Telo Genomics' approach leverages its expertise in quantitative analysis of 3D telomeres combined with molecular biology and artificial intelligence to recognize disease-associated genetic instability. The company's proprietary technology has been substantiated in over 160 peer-reviewed publications and more than 30 clinical studies involving over 3,000 patients with various cancers and Alzheimer's disease.
Potential Impact on Patient Care
The development of Telo's MRD tests could significantly impact how multiple myeloma is monitored and treated. By providing a less invasive alternative to bone marrow biopsies and potentially offering more detailed information about disease status and aggressiveness, these tests may help clinicians make more informed treatment decisions.
With a total addressable market of over 750,000 tests per year in the US alone for MM assays, the potential clinical and commercial impact of Telo's technology is substantial.
The upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting, which brings together more than 45,000 oncology professionals worldwide, will provide an important platform for Telo Genomics to showcase its innovative approach to MRD assessment in multiple myeloma, potentially advancing the field of precision medicine in oncology.
