InterVenn BioSciences Enrolls First Patients in VOCAL Trial
Summary
The prospective, international, multi-center, observational study will collect de-identified samples and data from 1,200 women, in both the United States and abroad, in order to validate ovarian cancer-specific glycoproteomic signatures in the blood based on histologically confirmed malignancy status of the mass. The primary endpoint will evaluate predictive values of the VOCAL test, with a secondary outcome analyzing the relationship between glycoproteins and survival rates among women with ovarian cancer. "There is so little we understand about ovarian cancer that the primary course of treatment for women with a tumor in their ovaries is the partial or total removal of the organs and sometimes even the uterus,” said Aldo Carrascoso, CEO of InterVenn BioSciences. “Through VOCAL, we hope to help physicians and patients better select a course of treatment most appropriate for their disease through an easy blood test that results in an improved quality of life.” Glycoproteomics, an emerging field combining proteomics and glycomics, can help with better biomarker and target discovery but produces an enormous amount of data that historically takes months to fully analyze and is often difficult to reproduce. InterVenn’s approach combines the analysis of glycoproteomics using mass spectrometry with data science and artificial intelligence to quickly identify potentially actionable and clinically relevant information for conditions including cancers, autoimmunity, fibrosis, and neurodegeneration.