We are a venture-backed startup developing first-in-class predictive biomarker tests to harness high-efficacy + low-toxicity antifibrotic drugs to prevent cancer progression.
MeCo Diagnostics traces its origins to the oldest observation in cancer biology: tumors often grow stiffer than surrounding tissue, leading to a palpable lump, which is the most common indicator of breast cancer.
Not all cancer cells are responsive to increased fibrotic stiffness of their tumor microenvironment. However, those that are responsive become “mechanically conditioned,” akin to deadly, microscopic machines which are programmed to wreak havoc by invading through tissues and spreading throughout the body.
Fortunately, antifibrotic drugs can be leveraged to "mechanically decondition" stiffness-responsive tumors. This has empowered us to develop a biomarker-enabled drug repurposing/repositioning approach that augments conventional chemotherapy.
Patients who may benefit from antifibrotic therapy are identified using our predictive biomarker test, the MeCo Score. Our test relies upon biopsy tissue that already exists, so most patients don't need to undergo any additional procedure nor visit any hospital/clinic to get a MeCo Score result.
Ultimately, our goal is to reduce cancer burden in patients before surgery, enabling total removal by their surgeons and leading to lifelong remission.
Since we are utilizing a generic-emergent drug as a proof-of-concept, the cost of antifibrotic therapy will soon be >10X cheaper than any other targeted therapies effective for breast cancer.
The MeCo Score is the first and only clinically validated test that can match patients to this exciting new therapeutic option. It's poised to dramatically improve survival and facilitate reduced healthcare costs while simultaneously benefiting our shareholders.
To learn more about our team, our technology, or our current fundraising round, please contact us.
To reveal the influence of mechanical conditioning,
we filmed breast cancer cells with low mechanical conditioning (left)
or high mechanical conditioning (right).
These time-lapse movies show these cancer cell clusters
growing in 3D collagen for 16 hours.
Antifibrotic therapy prevents the passive cells on the left
from behaving like the invasive, shapeshifting cells on the right
(visibly pulling on collagen fibers to invade).
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