OXFORD, UK – 14th January 2025 – Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Ltd (OCB), a leader in AI-driven, precision cancer diagnostics, has successfully met a major milestone with recruitment of the first patient into the clinical utility study of its precision oncology tool, OncoProg, being coordinated by Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham led by Consultant Oncologist, Dr Vicky Kunene.
OncoProg uses innovative digital pathology and AI-generated proprietary algorithms to create a risk profile for patients with early-stage colorectal cancer which improves the clinician’s ability to identify patients with a high chance of cure by surgery alone, or, conversely, those who are more likely to benefit from post-operative chemotherapy. This is an important testing tool because more targeted chemotherapy spares patients from unnecessary treatment and its consequent side effects and saves the NHS money by focussing therapy on patients who most need it.
An AI in Health and Care Award from the Department of Health and Social Care has provided funding for the study which will collect additional health economic data and record how clinicians use OncoProg to guide the best treatment for their colorectal cancer patients.
Prof David Kerr, co-founder of Oxford Cancer Biomarkers says ‘We have used our proprietary AI platform to develop OncoProg and validated it on more than 2000 cancer patients, and feel that this trial will provide the final evidence for us to take OncoProg to the wider NHS community. The future of cancer medicine is predicated on the use of biomarkers to select the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. Initiation of this important study takes us a significant step forward in this direction for the 1.2 million new colorectal cancer patients the world sees each year’.
About Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Ltd (OCB)
Oxford Cancer Biomarkers (OCB) is a spin-out from the University of Oxford, developing and commercialising a suite of AI-enabled diagnostic tools that harness the analytical capabilities of digital pathology and pharmacogenomic markers to optimise cancer treatment pathways. OCB continues to expand its portfolio with novel biomarkers and proprietary algorithms that enable clinicians to make personalised treatment recommendations based on real-world evidence and empower patients to make better-informed decisions about their own cancer therapy. Its most recent investment came from Plutus Investments Group LLP, which is a multi-family office backing entrepreneurs in Europe and the USA, focused on Life Sciences, Biotech, Fintech and Tech investments.
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