Molecular Diagnostics to industrialise 4D Lifetest

Liquid biopsies allow monitoring of a cancer patient’s disease progression at any time using a simple blood sample, and the Swiss startup 4D Lifetec has developed a special blood test for this purpose. Its flagship product 4D Lifetest™ Lung Dx is the first CE IVD registered assay that can non-invasively assess the development of lung cancer at the earliest stage. This diagnostic information is based on the company’s unique transformational biomarker and represents a breakthrough advance to address the mortality rates of lung cancer patients and protect benign patients from the invasive burden of frequently repeated surveillance diagnoses. 4D Lifetec plans to further expand the high throughput capacity of its assay and use it to detect other cancers such as breast, prostate and colorectal.

The startup has won a new partner to support its growth and success. It has signed a strategic partnership with Molecular Diagnostics Group, a specialist in developing, manufacturing and distributing molecular genetic tests and related instruments. The non-exclusive cooperation agreement aims to industrialise the 4D Lifetest by setting up industrial production of the assay kits and automating the 4D Lifetest workflow to facilitate its high-throughput application for laboratory diagnostics.

Production kicks off in spring 2023
As an experienced developer and producer of diagnostic tests, MDG has the necessary facilities to carry out the industrial production of the required test kits. The resources will help the startup to meet the expected increasing demand from the current market launch of the 4D Lifetest™. The build-up of production will start in the spring of 2023. “With this partnership, we are laying an important foundation for the successful expansion of our 4D Lifetest business in Europe and the USA,” says Arne Faisst, CEO of 4D Lifetec.

In the medium term, the two partners are also exploring the joint development of oncology diagnostic solutions that combine the exceptionally high sensitivity of the 4D Lifetest™ in early detection with advanced molecular genetic precision testing for cancer and patient stratification. Molecular precision diagnostics can be used to determine precisely which type of cancer is at the centre of the disease and which therapy approach is most promising.

“MDG will add an essential element to its portfolio strategy to expand the field of oncology diagnostics through co-operation with 4D Lifetec”, said Willi Zörgiebel, CEO of MDG.

(Press release/RAN)