Australian-made, world-first prostate cancer test commercialised

An Australian-developed prostate cancer check described as “revolutionary” has been successfully commercialised, following a collaborative project led by diagnostic technology company Minomic.

Minomic’s MiCheck Prostate cancer test uses a blood test, checking for three protein markers, plus a clinical factor to assess the patient’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer and whether or not a biopsy is needed.

The project saw MiCheck go through validation testing and commercialisation requirements and was supported by $396,928 in funding through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.

“Delivery of MiCheck Prostate to Australians in under 12-months was only possible with the support and guidance of outstanding project partners, including Douglass Hanley Moir and Macquarie University,” said the company’s CEO Dr Brad Walsh in a statement on Wednesday.

“The 12-month program would not have been possible without the considerable support of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre with its co-investment allowing us to bring to market a useful test for the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.”

Approximately 17,000 Australian men are tested for prostate cancer annually, usually via prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE).

According to a statement from AMGC, the test is both revolutionary in its field and a world-first. It provides urologists “with additional information to aid their clinical decision instead of relying on results from screening tests” including the PSA, which can return poor specificity (false positives) and poor sensitivity (false negatives).

“Minomic typifies the ever advancing Australian manufacturer: They have taken a great idea and turned it into a product that will improve patient outcomes both locally and globally,” said Dr Jens Goennemann, Managing Director, AMGC.

Picture: Minomic’s CEO Dr Brad-Walsh and Head of Research and Development Dr Douglas Campbell (supplied)