An early warning system for most cancers, that’s the promise of  HrC or the Himanshu Roy Cancer take a look at – a first-of-its-kind prognostic take a look at for most cancers.  

Named after Mumbai’s high cop, Himanshu Roy, the take a look at entails a single blood take a look at that claims to detect the absence, imminence or presence of most cancers. And it was developed by the city-based Epigeneres Biotechnology together with Singapore-based Tzar Labs, supported by some marquee buyers.  

“It was emotional for us,” says Ashish Tripathi, Founder and Chairman of Epigeneres Biotechnology and Chief Executive of Tzar Labs, on the molecular drug firm’s quest for a most cancers drug that led as an alternative to the invention of this diagnostic device. “We would not have delved into it… (but) brother in law (Roy) was ill and the family was committed,” says Ashish, a fraternal twin of creator Amish Tripathi.  

The firm has since operationalised its first lab in Mumbai, with plans for one more in Delhi later this yr. Speaking from Australia, Ashish explains the “firsts” of the take a look at and the way it differs from liquid biopsies. The take a look at detects all cancers from a blood take a look at; it catches imminent most cancers “very early” and it’s “very accurate”, he instructed businessline, of the “stage zero” take a look at that detects a possible most cancers danger 18 months earlier. For these susceptible to most cancers, it may point out the first organ that would get affected, the potential secondary goal and if it might unfold to a different organ, he says. 

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Speaking from the United States, older brother Anish Tripathi,  Chief Executive and Managing Director of Epigeneres Biotech, defined the science. Using the Covid-19 analogy, the place cities have been testing drain water as a surveillance technique to gauge the presence of the virus within the area, Anish says the precept is comparable. “Blood is the system that carries all the waste of the body….Ordinary cells and implicated cells in cancer move in that …we were looking the right place and asking the right questions,“ he said, 

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About 1,000 people (half with cancer) were part of the clinical study done through a Pune contract research organisation. The study was published in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 

They said the test has been launched in India, priced at sub-₹10,000. With a capacity of 15 samples daily the aim is to get to 50-100 samples a day, in about three months, said Anish. Besides cancer survivors, the test would help people with a family history of cancer or with a risk profile.  

“Those who are at higher risk should consider something like this, because if you are lucky and blessed and you will never have anything to do with cancer in your life, fantastic. But if a person is destined to get cancer, then detecting it early is everything because the cost of treatment, time of treatment and chances of survival improve dramatically,” says Anish.  

The firm is now discussing taking this expertise to the United Kingdom and the US. Some of its early minority buyers embrace Edelweiss co-founder Venkat Ramaswamy, Justdial co-founder V. Krishnan, Vijay Karnani, former co-head of Goldman Sachs in India, HCG hospital group and Torrent Pharma.