Suraksha Diagnostics Pvt Ltd Eastern India’s largest diagnostics chain today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kolkata Gynaecological Oncology trials & Translational Research Group (KolGOTrg) to launch the novel Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Test for the first time in diagnostics in India. It can detect Ovarian Cancer and serve as a low-cost alternative for ovarian cancer detection in diagnostics sector in India.
Dr Somnath Chatterjee, Director, Suraksha Diagnostics Pvt Ltd., Dr Asima Mukhopadhyay, HOD, Dept of Gynaecological Oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute & Founder Secretary, KolGOTrg, Consultant, BARTS, London and Dr Abhirup Sarkar, Laboratory Director, Suraksha Diagnostics Pvt Ltd. were present for the signing of the MoU and the launch of HRD Test.
“In India, there has been a 67% rise in Ovarian Cancer by 2020. But heterogeneity of the disease vis-à-vis expensive testing has been a hindrance for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. We feel privileged to collaborate with KolGOTrg who are pioneers in improving quality and duration of life for women with gynaecological cancers in India. Women suffering from ovarian cancer can now avail this affordable HRD Test from Suraksha Diagnostics”, said Dr Somnath Chatterjee, Director, Suraksha Diagnostics Pvt Ltd.
“The prime focus of this initiative will be to develop a novel low-cost testing method for routine diagnosis in Ovarian Cancer. Apart from this KolGOTrg is also collaborating with Suraksha Diagnostics for Department of Science & Technology grant on Translational research on HIPEC, an updated surgical technique for ovarian cancer patients”, said Dr Asima Mukhopadhyay, HOD, Dept of Gynaecological Oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute & Founder Secretary, KolGOTrg, Consultant, BARTS, London.
It had been previously shown by the Newcastle University group of researchers in UK that cancers harbouring a genetic defect in the BRCA genes are very sensitive to a new class of anti-cancer drug called PARP inhibitors. In 2010, Dr Asima Mukhopadhyay, showed that approximately 50% epithelial ovarian cancer patients harbour a defect called BRCAness or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), therefore providing the scope for extending the use for PARP inhibitors to a lot more women compared to only 10-20% of women who have inherited detects in the BRCA gene. The term “BRCAness” describes the phenotypic traits that some sporadic ovarian tumours share with tumours in BRCA1/2 germline mutation carriers and reflects similar causative molecular abnormalities.
At this very juncture of the complexity, Suraksha Diagnostics Pvt Ltd as an Industrial Research partner is collaborating with Kolkata Gynaecological Oncology trials and Translational Research Group to develop this novel HRD assay (test) for diagnostic purpose targeting technology readiness level 9 (TRL 9) with accreditation from national and international bodies. Suraksha Diagnostics is setting up a semi-automated targeted cancer biorepository in diagnostics, a state of art clinical study involving PARP inhibitors in Ovarian Cancers and implementation of point of care HPV testing strategy for cervical cancer screening.
The HRD Test will be priced between Rs 5,000/- to Rs 10,000/- and will be available at Suraksha Diagnostics Centre at Sector 1 PLOT NO-DD 18, 1, Bidhannagar, Kolkata – 700064.
