Oxford BioDynamics Plc announced development of a high-accuracy, discriminating multi-cancer canine diagnostic test for veterinary medicine. The test was developed in collaboration withVeterinary Referral Associates, Gaithersburg MD, USA;Animal Cancer Care and Research Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St.

Paul, MN, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA;Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN; and Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.OBD'sEpiSwitch SCB("Scooby") test is a well balanced, highly accurate blood test to specifically diagnosecanine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), T-zone lymphoma (TZL), hemangiosarcoma (HSA), histiocytic sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and canine malignant melanoma, in a powerful single assay format. The test was validated using 3D whole-genome profiling in peripheral blood. It demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for lymphomas and sarcomas as a class (accuracy >80%); and high sensitivity and specificity for specific individual indications, with an accuracy >89%.

The validation results are published in BioRxiv .There is a critical need in veterinary oncology for an accurate, specific, sensitive, non-invasive (blood) biomarker assay to assess canine oncological indications earlier, to better inform therapeutic interventions. Current  alternatives for non-invasive canine cancer detection deliver only a "cancer/no cancer" outcome, with low specificity and no distinction between different cancer types. Effective therapeutic intervention requires a definitive identification of a specific cancer type - often a difficult task in current veterinary practice.OBD's newly published study demonstrates a novel 3D genomic approach that can diagnose six canine cancers, as well as support continuing upgrade for additional diagnostic profiles, in a  modular manner.

The EpiSwitch SCB test promises to help veterinary specialists to diagnose the disease, make more informed treatment decisions, minimize or avoid unnecessarily toxicity, and efficiently manage costs and resources.EpiSwitch SCB will be made available to a select group of vets who will generate real-world utility data that will further validate the test. It is expected that the commercialisation of the EpiSwitch ECB test will be through a partnership or outlicensing arrangement with an organisation with an existing presence in the pet healthcare market.