NEW AUSTRALIAN PARTNERSHIP FORMS TO BRING WORLD'S FIRST NON-INVASIVE MELANOMA TEST TO MARKET

Melaseq will offer over two million Australians at high-risk of developing melanoma in their lifetime access to a simple blood test to detect melanoma signatures in their blood. Melaseq is also suited to tissue sample testing.

With no specific solid tissue, blood or genetic detection tests available worldwide, doctors will welcome Melaseq for its accuracy and ability to improve clinical decision making and the monitoring of patients at risk of developing melanoma or those with re-emerging melanoma. 

Once fully commercialised, Melaseq will for the first time, offer physicians a diagnostic tool to monitor for early signs of melanoma recurrence, potentially allowing life-saving treatment to start earlier.

The partnership with Clinical Labs achieves an important milestone for Geneseq, a wholly owned Australian company. With the backing of Australia’s largest privately-held pathology company, Geneseq can accelerate additional testing and validation work at the scale required to bring Melaseq to the market. 

Dr Ryan Van Laar PhD, CEO of Geneseq Biosciences said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Clinical Labs, a company highly regarded as an early adopter of new technologies, such as precision medicine. This agreement gives us access to a world-class clinical and bio-specimen network, in addition to the reimbursement, regulatory, and commercial expertise necessary to make Melaseq a success”.

Group CEO and Managing Director of Clinical Labs, Melinda McGrath said the new partnership is another demonstration of our strategy to innovate and grow through scientific leadership, market-leading technology and talented people. “We are delighted to be part of the early detection of melanoma. Australia has the largest incidence of skin cancer in the world and we want to this to change. Partnering with Geneseq Biosciences presents an exciting opportunity to find new ways to detect and prevent melanoma sooner,” she said.

About the Research

The partnership began after research was published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Cancer in March 2018. This study revealed how Dr Van Laar and colleagues worked to discover a new signature of melanoma based on circulating microRNAs, found in patient and normal donor blood samples. In independent validation patient series, Melaseq exhibited up to 94% accuracy. A second clinical validation study has been accepted for publication in the Melanoma Research journal. 

Reference #1: Van Laar R, Lincoln M, Van Laar B. Development and validation of a plasma-based melanoma biomarker suitable for clinical use. British Journal of Cancer. 2018.

Reference #2: Van Laar R, Lincoln M, Van Laar B. A Plasma MicroRNA Biomarker of Melanoma as a Personalised Assessment of Treatment Response. Melanoma Research. 2018 [In Press].

About Melanoma

Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime, of which melanoma is the rarest but most deadly form. Worldwide, the incidence of melanoma continues to increase, outpacing the rise of any other malignancy in the Caucasian population over the last 30 years [1, 2]. Despite being curable if diagnosed early, four Australians die each day from this cancer, resulting in more deaths than the road toll.

If not diagnosed early and accurately, melanoma grows quickly spreads through the lymphatic system and blood stream to other organs such as the lungs, liver, brain or bone. There are currently no specific solid tissue, blood or genetic tests available to help doctors diagnose melanoma or monitor for recurrence.

In 2018 there will be an estimated 14,320 melanoma diagnoses, 1,905 deaths and over 50,00 people living with the disease. Over 2 million Australians have one or more high-risk characteristics for developing melanoma in their lifetime. 

About Australian Clinical Labs

Australian Clinical Labs combine pathology leadership, ground-breaking technology and the best scientists in the field to bring better outcomes for doctors and patients alike. 

Clinical Labs is the largest pathology provider to public hospitals in Australia and one of the top choices amongst private practices across the country. With over 90 NATA accredited laboratories and 900 collection sites nation-wide, the company performs around 8 million episodes a year for a range of clients including doctors, specialists, patients, hospitals and corporate clients.

Clinical Labs is a leader in molecular testing and new technologies and employs over 3,800 employees including more than 90 highly respected and experienced pathologists. 

For more information about Clinical Labs please see: www.clinicallabs.com.au

About Geneseq Biosciences:

Geneseq Biosciences is a privately-held Melbourne based biotechnology company, pioneering the development of new “liquid biopsy” tests to help doctors individualise cancer diagnostics & treatment options.

Founded in 2016, their first test, Melaseq, is designed to accurately detect the genetic (microRNA) fingerprint of active melanoma in blood. In 2017, Geneseq Biosciences presented their work at the World Melanoma Congress and participated in the Royal Melbourne Hospitals ‘Melbourne Health Incubator (MHx)’ program.

For more information about Geneseq please see: www.geneseq.com.au