Proteomics International’s (ASX: PIQ) share price surged as much as 24 per cent today on the best volume in more than two months to reach 75 cents, driven by news of successful study results from its game-changing PromarkerEndo blood test being developed to diagnose endometriosis.
In a significant breakthrough in women’s health, the innovative diagnostic tool has proven it is highly accurate in differentiating between healthy individuals and those suffering endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting one in nine women worldwide.
The company says the PromarkerEndo results may soon lead to a non-invasive, fast and simple screening test offering women and girls with symptoms an earlier diagnosis of the disease, potentially allowing them to avoid invasive diagnostic surgery.
An abdominal laparoscopy and biopsy is the current standard procedure to diagnose the disease, which can take an average of seven years to diagnose, leaving millions of women with debilitating pain and without timely care. It is also a significant cause of infertility, with studies showing women receiving fertility treatment are three times as likely to have endometriosis as their otherwise healthy counterparts.
In partnership with the Royal Women’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Proteomics used a novel panel of 10 plasma protein biomarkers – so-called protein fingerprints found in blood - to identify the disease in blood samples.
The tests were conducted on 805 participants across two independent clinical sample groups to compare severe cases of endometriosis against women in the general population and those with mild symptoms.
Using cutting-edge proteomics and statistical modelling, a three-pronged analysis was developed to determine the accuracy of the models in diagnosing each of the four stages of endometriosis.
The standout cluster, Model 3, was used to analyse those participants with severe endometriosis against those with minor symptoms and notched up a near perfect 0.997 accuracy rating in spotting severe, stage four disease.
The tests also showed an excellent diagnostic performance, with an 0.852 accuracy rating for identifying early-stage disease when measured against healthy patients.
For comparison, the statistical performance of the gold-standard diagnostic test for prostate cancer in men – the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) diagnostic test which measures the PSA protein in blood - has a 0.68 accuracy rating.
The integration of the PromarkerEndo blood test into clinical practice could streamline diagnosis, improve patient outcomes and deepen the understanding of endometriosis. This advancement marks a significant step toward non-invasive, personalised care for a condition that has long been underserved by current medical approaches.
Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe
The company says the new findings, published in the well-regarded medical journal Human Reproduction, have built on its discoveries earlier in the year that showed off PromarkerEndo’s ability to successfully pick up late-stage endometriosis in patients.
Proteomics is aiming for a clinical launch of its diagnostic tool in Australia between March and June next year then plans to expand globally. It is also refining the test’s diagnostic algorithm and developing a cloud-based software hub for efficient results reporting.
The company is also progressing an option to deliver the tests directly to the consumer/patient by leveraging the framework for its predictive test for diabetic kidney disease and diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer, which it plans to launch in the first three months of 2025.
Endometriosis costs Australia $9.7 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity. With its focus on early intervention and personalised care, PromarkerEndo appears to offer a beacon of hope for those living with the condition.
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