The 2015 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates published by the Philippine Cancer Society identified the ovary as among the top ten leading new cancer sites.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intervenn/
While the survival rate is more than 90 percent when detected in the early stages (stage 1), most ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the late stages (stage 4) where the survival rate is less than 20 percent. Currently, there is no minimally invasive test that can accurately detect ovarian cancer at its early stages when it is most curable.
But InterVenn BioSciences is working hard to change that. Headquartered in Redwood City California, with offices in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, InterVenn BioSciences is a life science company with a mission to understand and control complex diseases like cancer for populations globally.
The company uses augmented intelligence or AI to integrate cancer biology, data science, and advanced instrumentation, all in the context of robust epidemiology study design.
The company has developed an AI-driven mass spectrometry-based platform for the discovery and validation of biomarkers for cancer including ovarian, breast and prostate, pioneering the glycoproteomic approach for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Glycoproteomics, an emerging field combining proteomics and glycomics, can help with better biomarker and target discovery but produces an enormous amount of data that takes too long to fully analyze and is often difficult to reproduce.
By leveraging mass spectrometry, hi-res characterization of post-translational modifications, and artificial intelligence, InterVenn streamlines and expedites this process and ensures that any variability in the workflow—from the sample collection, processing and all the way to instrument ingestion—is drastically minimized and the results become supremely reproducible.
The company’s first product is a blood-based ovarian cancer diagnostic that is currently undergoing analytical and clinical validation. This is an accurate minimally invasive blood test to detect ovarian cancer in the early stages.
“We’ve established a talented team of experts in AI, computational biology, mass spectrometry, software engineering, glycoproteomics and product development who are dedicated to equipping physicians with a reliable, high-performing and cost-effective tool to change the narrative around ovarian cancer,” said InterVenn BioSciences chief executive Aldo Carrascoso.
“Our company promises to contribute passionately in addressing the problem of cancer with an interdisciplinary approach—microbiology, glycoproteomics, augmented intelligence, social sciences, economics and patients care. We believe the best way to fix the problem is through a holistic approach,” Carrascoso said.
Carrascoso is one of three Filipino co-founders of InterVenn BioSciences. Working with him are Lieza Danan, Ph.D who has 20 years of mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry and instrumentation experience answering complex scientific questions no other analytical tools can address, plus over 10 years extensive experience (with Stemcentrx, Genentech, Sutro Biopharma, among many others) as a technical leader in fast-paced Biopharmaceutical, cGMP Analytical CRO and Instrumentation Facilities.
Completing the trio is Carlito Lebrilla, Ph.D, fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Distinguished Professor at University of California Davis. Lebrilla is considered a pioneer in translational glycoproteomics and mass spectrometry and its application to complex disease understanding biological interrogation.
Filipinos are also at the helm of the software development and cloud infrastructure efforts. InterVenn has a dedicated team based in Ortigas Center, Pasig. “The technology is able to automate tedious work, in effect, supercharging the scientists, making their work faster and easier,” said Carrascoso.
Once the validation and regulatory processes are completed, the company will begin offering a laboratory diagnostic test. They have recently received an institutional investment of $9.4 million led by seasoned biotech investor Genoa Ventures, with participation from True Ventures, Amplify Partners, Boost VC, and Prado SV.
Clinical trials are underway at the Philippine General Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and The Medical City.
They urge the public to contribute to developing and validating this vital blood test for early ovarian cancer detection by providing biological samples and medical information—both from ovarian cancer patients and donors who do not have cancer will be useful.