BioWorld International Correspondent

LONDON Proteome Sciences plc announced new data for its stroke proteomics marker in blood that show the test is sensitive and specific enough to be used in clinical applications.

The latest results, based on trials at the University Cantonal Hospital in Geneva, show the assay has 100 percent specificity, sensitivity of 68.2 percent and positive predictive accuracy of 100 percent.

CEO Christopher Pearce told BioWorld International, “These results take us well over the threshold of specificity needed for clinical application and we have other markers to incorporate, which means the sensitivity will improve.”

The company, based in Cobham, will show the results to a short list of potential partners with which it is in licensing discussions. “One great advantage is that this test can be slotted into existing platforms. It won’t be necessary to design new equipment,” Pearce said, and discussions to date indicate the test could be on the market within two years.

The test already can differentiate between stroke and heart attack, and one of the terms of a deal would be that the partner finances research to further develop the test so that it can differentiate ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke.

The share price of Proteome, which is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market in London, rose by 8 pence to 63 pence when the news was announced Thursday.

Proteome began its search for protein makers in stroke in 1996, taking two years to put together the initial collection of cerebrospinal fluid from 190 patients.

“From this we identified differences between stroke and control but, of course, obtaining cerebrospinal fluid is a very invasive procedure,” Pearce said. “Using our skills in proteomics, we identified a similar difference in blood, which provides a much easier testing method.”

Pearce suggested the test also could be used proactively to test for “mini” strokes that are often a precursor to a more serious event. “This would allow much earlier intervention to reduce risk, and would open up a much bigger volume market,” he said.

Proteomics also intends to extend its knowledge of protein markers in stroke into therapeutics. It has a collaboration with ReNeuron Holdings plc, a company specializing in cell replacement therapy in the treatment of central nervous system diseases, to apply Proteome’s proteomics tools to identify proteins expressed during brain repair in response to stroke, as possible therapeutics or drug targets.

“ReNeuron has restored function following stroke [in animal models] and we already know the difference between disease and control, so this should give us a fast route to deliver new therapeutics,” Pearce said.

Proteome also is developing assays for protein markers for organ transplant rejection, and earlier this year was granted patents on its technique for identifying abnormal prions in blood, paving the way to the first live diagnostic tests for Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle.

Pearce said the company would apply its proteomics expertise to uncover other medically important markers in blood. “We invested very early on in analyzing this complex body fluid,” he said. “We now have a very robust platform that will pay off for us.

“While genomics has received massive attention and money, but is yet to deliver, proteomics will be seen to deliver products quickly, in areas of unmet medical need.”