FETCH Wins Venture Challenge with Innovative Cancer Diagnostics
The Netherlands, Monday, 1 July 2024.
FETCH, a startup revolutionizing metastatic cancer diagnostics, clinched the Venture Challenge Spring 2024 at the Dutch Biotech Event. Their groundbreaking approach analyzes tumor cells from large blood volumes, potentially transforming personalized cancer treatment through real-time monitoring and targeted therapy selection.
Precision Diagnostics for Metastatic Cancer
FETCH’s innovative approach focuses on analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from a patient’s entire blood volume. This comprehensive detection and characterization of CTCs provide crucial information for selecting the best-targeted therapies. Traditional biopsies and current liquid biopsy methods often fall short in providing detailed tumor information, making FETCH’s method a significant advancement in precision diagnostics.
Overcoming Limitations of Traditional Methods
Conventional biopsy methods are invasive and often impractical for patients with metastatic cancer. Even liquid biopsy techniques, while less invasive, have limitations in sensitivity and robustness. FETCH’s approach addresses these issues by enabling the detailed analysis of tumor cells from large blood volumes, thereby providing a more accurate representation of the tumor’s characteristics. This method can be particularly beneficial for patients who are resistant to conventional treatments, such as those with metastatic prostate cancer.
Applications and Future Prospects
Currently, FETCH focuses on metastatic prostate cancer, a significant area of need given that approximately 53,000 patients per year in the EU and US are resistant to hormone therapy for this condition. However, the potential applications of FETCH’s technology extend beyond prostate cancer. The adaptable and scalable nature of their approach could revolutionize diagnostics for a wide range of cancers where traditional biopsy methods are insufficient.
Recognition and Support
The recognition at the Venture Challenge Spring 2024 came with a €25,000 prize, which FETCH plans to use for further growth and development. Michiel Stevens, the founder of FETCH, expressed that the Venture Challenge provided invaluable support in clarifying their unique value proposition and potential impact on oncologic care. This acknowledgment underscores the critical need for innovative solutions in cancer diagnostics and the potential for FETCH’s approach to become a standard in personalized medicine.
Conclusion
FETCH’s victory at the Venture Challenge Spring 2024 marks a significant milestone in the field of precision diagnostics for metastatic cancer. By offering a more detailed and comprehensive analysis of circulating tumor cells, FETCH is poised to transform cancer diagnostics and treatment, providing hope for many patients who currently face limited options. As the startup continues to develop and expand its technology, the future of personalized cancer treatment looks increasingly promising.