Cambridge, February 17, 2025: In a major breakthrough in the field of biotechnology, EDX Medical has announced the development of a new ‘super test’ for prostate cancer. With accuracy rates between 96–99%, this non-invasive test promises to revolutionise screening, diagnosis, and personalised treatment for thousands of men in the UK and beyond.
Unlike traditional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and biopsies, which can have accuracy rates as low as 50%, EDX Medical’s new test claims exceptional precision. It identifies:
- The presence or absence of cancerous cells
- Early or late-stage cancer indicators
- Tumour aggressiveness
- Genetic and hereditary risks
The AI-driven algorithm analyses over 100 clinically validated biomarkers, a massive leap from the 20 biomarkers used in existing advanced tests.
The need for such a test is critical, with 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the UK each year and more than 330,000 cases across European Union countries. Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers among men, and current diagnostic methods often fall short.
This ‘super test’ not only detects various sub-types of prostate cancer but also identifies key features particularly relevant for patients in non-Caucasian higher-risk groups. The test uses a ‘multi-omics’ approach that assesses:
- Proteomic (protein-related) markers
- Genetic and hereditary risks
- Transcriptomic and epigenetic data
The AI algorithm further increases accuracy by integrating additional phenotypic and symptom data. Individually, these biomarkers have all been clinically validated in more than 31,000 prostate cancer samples and over 100,000 non-cancer control samples, making the test one of the most robust and comprehensive diagnostic tools in biotechnology today.
A highly accurate prostate cancer test like this offers substantial benefits, not only for men aged 45–70, who may appear healthy, but also for healthcare providers. Increased accuracy in diagnosis is expected to reduce the need for unnecessary MRI scans and dramatically lower the requirement for invasive digital rectal examinations (DRE), improving patient comfort and reducing healthcare costs.
As detailed in an official press release, Prof Sir Chris Evans, founder and chief scientific officer of EDX Medical, said: “We have been working intensively in this area and are tremendously excited by what we believe is a truly game-changing test. Every indication thus far shows it will be the most accurate and sensitive screening test available and will be transformative in tackling prostate cancer in men who may have no idea if anything is wrong with them…
What sets this test apart is the use of so many biomarkers with best-in-class instrument and reagent technology and our bespoke AI algorithm.”
EDX Medical has filed a patent application for both the test and the AI algorithm with the European Patent Office. The company’s scientific team will continue to validate further clinical data in the coming months before seeking regulatory approval from the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
EDX Medical aims to launch the test later this year or in early 2026, marking a crucial milestone in the field of diagnostic biotechnology.
