British Columbia-based liquid biopsy tech developer BioMark Diagnostics Inc (OTCMKTS: BMKDF) (CNSX: BUX) is playing an influential role in a large-scale German lung cancer study.
Last month, the Canadian medical technology company shipped its artificial intelligence-integrated blood testing tool to researchers engaged with the Holistic Implementation Study Assessing a Northern German Interdisciplinary Lung Cancer Screening Effort (HANSE). It is Germany’s most sizeable and ambitious screening initiative to date.
BioMark’s entry into the multi-year clinical trial comes during a newly expanded phase of the assessment and is a significant validation win for the medtech operator’s screening system. This latest portion of the study will involve 10,000 participants.
“We are now the core diagnostic partner for this massive lung cancer screening study,” BioMark said on social media last week, “providing critical international validation for our metabolomics-powered test.”
BioMark’s lung cancer test uses metabolomics and machine learning algorithms to identify and quantify irregular metabolites produced by cancer cells, enabling early detection through blood-based metabolic signatures. By combining metabolomics with AI, BioMark detects subtle cancer-driven metabolic-shifts in a person’s blood.
This has enabled the company to achieve over 90 per cent sensitivity for early-stage lung cancer in clinical research endeavours while minimizing false positives.
“With the integration of blood-based biomarkers in the HANSE-Study, we aim to detect early lung cancer in the asymptomatic population aged 55-79 years,” commented Hannover Medical School radiology professor, Dr. Jens Vogel-Claussen, on Oct. 7, “which is currently not eligible for lung cancer screening with low-dose CT according to current risk-assessment criteria.”
“Furthermore, we aim to reduce the number of benign biopsies and surgical resections of positive low-dose CT cases.”
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BioMark applauds Canadian Cancer Society’s lung cancer campaign
The oncology specialist just voiced its support for the newly announced 2026-2035 Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Action Plan.
The Canadian Cancer Society initiative, launched at the beginning of Lung Cancer Awareness Month on Nov. 2, aims to cut lung cancer deaths in Canada by 30 per cent. It seeks to address a nationwide crisis of fatalities. In 2024 alone, more than 21,000 Canadians lost their lives to the disease.
As highlighted by BioMark, the plan has recognized the importance of expanding access to innovative new screening modalities in addition to those that are being most employed. The medtech operator wants to attract attention to its artificial intelligence-powered blood testing system.
“Our clinical results demonstrate the power of AI-enabled biomarker testing in identifying more early-stage cancers, even in non-smokers,” said founder and CEO Rashid Bux in a press release on Nov. 12, “directly supporting the Action Plan’s commitment to saving lives nationwide.”
Bux added that the company’s technology could complement low-dose CT screening being used as part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s new campaign. Though flawed due to emitting radiation and a high rate of false positives, LDCT is currently considered to be the gold standard in the healthcare sector.
“This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we’re leveraging our next-generation liquid biopsy and AI technology to deliver the innovative, equitable screening solutions required to achieve Canada’s bold goal: a 30 per cent reduction in lung cancer mortality,” commented Chief Scientific Officer, Jean-François Haince.
BioMark currently has over 25 patents for its oncology tech and has raised C$13.2 million to date. Additionally, the company has secured C$7.8 million worth of grants.
BioMark also prioritizes screening for glioblastoma (brain), breast and pancreatic cancers.
DELFI Diagnostics, Guardant Health Inc (NASDAQ: GH) (FRA: 5GH), Breath Diagnostics, Biodesix Inc (NASDAQ: BDSX) and Nucleix are notable lung cancer screening technology competitors.
BioMark’s market capitalization is currently sitting at approximately C$34 million.
Read more: Breath Diagnostics adopts state-of-the-art mass spectrometer device for lung screening
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