Switzerland, AI and Liquid Biopsies
In the future, more cancer screening could be done through blood tests - so-called liquid biopsies.
Among the already available liquid biopsy test is aimed at early detection of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening is crucial due to the high incidence and mortality rates of the disease, which is increasingly affecting younger individuals. In response, the U.S. has lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening.
The current screening methods for colorectal cancer remain stool tests and preventative colonoscopies. But these have low compliance rates. This is where liquid biopsies, when incorporated into regular annual checkups, could step in. If they were conducted with routine blood draws, they could improve compliance and detection rates, says Brian Hashemi - Executive Chairman and CEO of Novigenix - a Swiss-based biotech company using AI and RNA sequence analysis to capture the cancer immunity cycle during the multi-stage disease progression and response to therapy.
AI and predictive modeling to understand an individual’s immune system function and predict treatment response are still in very early stages.
We dream about precision medicine and getting every answer we can for ourselves when we get sick. However, if we look at genomics, only about 20 percent of human coding genes are well-studied. The remaining 80 percent (about 16,000 genes, along with the proteins they make) are largely a mystery.
In this episode, you will hear more about the field of immuno-oncology, understand the correlation between tumor development and immune system response, and trends in cancer detection and prevention, especially liquid biopsies - tests for detecting tumors in blood samples.
Show notes:
[00:02:00] The use of AI and RNA sequence analysis in capturing the cancer immunity cycle and disease progression
[00:04:00] Biotech in Switzerland
[00:06:00] The impact of Swiss biotech capabilities on global healthcare and the specific advancements made by Swiss companies in the field.
[00:08:00] Predictions and hopes for the future of healthcare technology, especially in the realms of cancer detection and treatment.
[00:10:00] Challenges and opportunities in biotech, and the role of AI in advancing healthcare.
[00:12:00] Challenges in Colorectal Cancer Screening
[00:14:00] The Impact of Liquid Biopsy on Clinical Trials and Drug Development
[00:16:00] Market Adoption and Patient Accessibility to Liquid Biopsy Tests
[00:18:00] The Future of Liquid Biopsy and Precision Medicine
[00:20:00] Real-world Application and Impact of Novel Biomarkers
[00:22:00] Expanding the Reach of Novel Diagnostics Beyond Switzerland
[00:24:00] Partnerships and Collaborations to Accelerate Adoption