ExBiome

Developing diagnostic tests that detect cancer from blood samples

Almost every cell in the human body releases some of its cellular and genetic materials into the blood. This makes blood a rich source of information about our body’s physiology, with the potential to provide accurate information about our health.
Using this principle, ExBiome is developing its proprietary ExomiR technology platform to detect molecular markers released by tumors, and measure how cancers are responding to therapy, from a standard sample of blood – a “liquid biopsy”. ExBiome’s initial focus is on developing its platform to detect Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Platform

ExBiome’s ExomiR technology platform assesses health status by analyzing small genetic molecules (nucleic acids such as microRNAs) released in extracellular vesicles (exosomes) into the blood. Exosomes are known carriers of tumor-derived information and we have shown that profiles of exosomal microRNAs (miRNA) and modified miRNAs (isomiRs), are altered in disease. Starting from a standard blood sample, the ExomiR platform employs innovative approaches to isolate exosomes, purify and measure RNA using sequencing or amplification, and interpret data using an analytical algorithm.

For details on our ExomiR technology platform please see our publications.

View Publications

Plasma vesicle miRNAs for therapy response monitoring in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27882350

Non‑invasive prostate cancer detection by measuring miRNA variants (isomiRs) in urine extracellular vesicles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26992225

Nontemplated nucleotide additions distinguish the small RNA composition in cells from exosomes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25242326

Lymphoma

The mainstay of treatment for patients with Lymphoma (cancer of immune cells) is a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and sometimes stem-cell transplantation. To monitor whether these therapies have the desired effect, clinicians rely on a complex and costly imaging technique called Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). However, this technique frequently fails to detect residual cancer and cannot identify patients during treatment that are not responding to the therapeutic drug. Development of a simple test to guide clinicians in treating Lymphoma patients more effectively is sorely needed. ExBiome is using its ExomiR technology platform to address this unmet medical need.

ExBiome is developing a blood test which clinicians can use to follow the progress of treatment in Lymphoma patients. This test will also be beneficial after treatment, to monitor for the cancer coming back (relapse). If detected early, a relapsed cancer can be treated more efficiently to improve patient outcomes. The ExomiR-Lymph test is currently in technical validation and will be first employed in clinical trials.

Our team

ExBiome combines a mix of biotech entrepreneurs and scientists with unique expertise
in the field of liquid biopsies including nucleic acids detection and tailored analysis.