Strand Life Sciences' Blood Test for Early Cancer Detection Secures Patent
Reliance's Strand Life Sciences has patented a blood-based platform for early cancer detection, using AI and genome sequencing.
New Delhi: Strand Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, has secured an Indian patent for its innovative platform designed to enable early cancer detection through a simple blood test. This announcement, made on Tuesday, highlights the company's advancement in using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis to identify cancerous changes at an early stage.
The patented technology integrates high-quality genome sequencing with rigorous quality control processes, biologically informed methylation and fragmentomic feature extraction, and sophisticated machine learning algorithms. This combination allows for the detection of cancer and determination of its tissue-of-origin from a blood sample. A notable aspect of this innovation is its ability to capture extensive methylation pattern changes across the genome with minimal error, a crucial factor in identifying early-stage cancer.
Addressing India's Cancer Challenge
India faces over 1.5 million new cancer cases annually, with many diagnoses occurring at advanced stages when treatment is less effective. Traditional screening methods only cover a limited range of cancers and lack scalability. Strand's new platform seeks to address these challenges by offering a scalable solution that can enhance early detection without the need for extensive infrastructure expansion.
Ramesh Hariharan, CEO of Strand Life Sciences, emphasized the importance of early detection, stating, "This patent reflects our commitment to developing scientifically rigorous, AI-enabled liquid biopsy technologies that can help detect cancer earlier from a simple blood sample. We believe this innovation represents an important step towards making precision cancer screening more accurate, scalable, and accessible."
Integrating AI in Cancer Detection
The patented technology is part of Strand's broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into molecular approaches for cancer detection. This development adds to the company's growing intellectual property portfolio in liquid biopsy technologies, which are critical for advancing precision oncology.
As both government and private sectors in India increase investments in affordable diagnostics, Strand Life Sciences aims to push forward research and deployment of blood-based screening tools. These tools are designed to complement existing cancer screening programs, potentially shifting the focus towards earlier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
The decreasing costs of sequencing further enhance the feasibility of Strand's platform, presenting an opportunity for widespread application in early cancer detection. This aligns with the growing need for innovative solutions to tackle India's increasing cancer burden.