International Pitch 2 :Onco-PDO: Phenotypic driven Precision Oncology

[Summary]

Cancer has evolved as a global challenge with an alarming rise in its global incidence. This calls for developing new approaches for early detection and even prevention of cancer. The response rate to chemotherapy really leaves much to be desired. The introduction of personalized medicine based on genomic sequencing approaches has also not led to gains in survival or even quality of life and healthcare.

To better understand the market channels, regulatory environment, and reimbursement mechanisms for personalized oncology service in the Japanese market, a bioanalytics company came into the frame, named as Invitrocue. It deals with contract research business focusing on preclinical drug discovery and cell-based with a strong focus on liver cells. The personalized clinical service was referred to as Onco-PDO, which has been developed in collaboration with ASTAR and National Cancer Center, Singapore. It is basically a phenotype-driven precision oncology approach, whereby real-time modeling is used for conducting in vitro test to predict tumor response to standard care therapeutics. It was complemented with genomic-driven approaches using our Polaris platform.

Onco-PDO approach is functional in Singapore and Hong Kong, where the regulatory regimes are favorable. They intend to expand their market to other countries. Invitrocue takes the freedom to try novel approaches at a greater scale in pursuit of life-changing technologies.

[Mentors' comments]

　"I was wondering what sort of regulatory path with the PDO oncology program you anticipate going through, whether it be CLIA or something else? How do you see the regulatory interactions going?"Dr. Kevin Grimes, Stanford University

[Profile]

Sunny Tan is Senior VP, Scientific Affairs & Business Development of Invitrocue, a bioanalytics company spun out of Singapore's Agency For Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR). Sunny is a life sciences & health innovation professional, passionate about commercializing innovative technologies to prevent and/or treat disease and improve human health. He has worked successfully with entrepreneurs, investors, senior executives, R&D teams, and governments to evaluate technologies and investment opportunities, and matched science to business. Sunny started his career at the National Science & Technology Board, Singapore. He received his undergraduate degree in Biotechnology (First Class Honours) from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and his PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University.