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2022-07-26| Asia-PacificFunding

CK Life Sciences and CK Hutchison Invest in Taiwanese Liquid Biopsy Candidate

by Reed Slater
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Hong Kong-based CK Life Sciences CK Hutchison will invest in Taiwan-based Pharus, a company dedicated to developing liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection. The two CK firms will hold an 18.33% stake in Pharus, which is valued at approximately $30 million. 

“The newly established Pharus Taiwan, Inc. is based on OncoSweep™, a genetic test for multi-cancer early screening that has been clinically validated for many years,” Dr. Johnsee Lee, chairman of Quark Biosciences said, “the product tests for up to 100 microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers by collecting a small number of blood samples and using machine learning algorithms for data analysis to determine the likelihood of cancer.”

Liquid Biopsy’s Growing Potential in Cancer Detection

Until recently, doctors detected cancer via invasive techniques that were often uncomfortable and time-consuming for the patient. Over the last decade, the industry has started adopting non-invasive liquid biopsy tests that isolate tumor-derived elements like circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA from the fluids of a patient with cancer. 

Pharus’ OncoSweep platform is one of these innovative liquid biopsy tests that detects multiple types of cancer in the early stages. The company’s platform analyzes over 100 biomarkers of microRNA circulating in the patient’s blood and a machine learning algorithm detects the presence of cancer in the patient. Pharus also developed single-cancer tests for cancer with a high incidence rate in Asia. 

Quark BioSciences owns Pharus and will license certain assets to the smaller company like patent rights, know-how, and certain physical assets for Pharus to use in development. 

According to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing from CK Life Sciences, the agreement is deemed fair and reasonable for all parties involved and in the interests of the shareholders involved.

Related Article: Delfi Diagnostics Amasses $225 Million for Early Cancer Screening

Tough Competition in the Liquid Biopsy Arena

As the practical applications of liquid biopsy tests become more apparent, several big players are jumping at the opportunity to capitalize on the market. Interested parties ranging from large entities like Roche and Thermo Fisher to small, more focused companies like Pharus and BioChain are developing liquid biopsy tests. 

Individual companies have slightly different variations in how their tests work, but the end goal is the same to provide biomarkers for the detection of various diseases. Along with techniques like Pharus’ microRNA system, some companies use extracellular vesicles as a platform for liquid biopsies. 

Regardless of their format, liquid biopsy tests are an exciting development in medicine with a plethora of valuable applications. CK Life Sciences and CK Hutchison’s investment in Pharus’ liquid biopsy platform is another step in the right direction for the area’s growth. 

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