The startup develops an optical diagnostic agent that utilizes Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to detect the activity of the BCR::ABL protein in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. This technology enables precise, single-cell analysis of drug responsiveness before treatment initiation, addressing the challenge of identifying effective therapies for individual patients.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current methods for assessing drug response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients rely on observing treatment outcomes, which can delay the identification of effective therapies. Determining drug efficacy at the single-cell level before initiating treatment is challenging.
Solution
Horizon Illumination Lab Optics (HILO) has developed an optical diagnostic agent that uses Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to detect the activity of the BCR::ABL protein in CML cells. This technology enables single-cell analysis of drug responsiveness prior to treatment. By introducing the "optical diagnostic agent" developed at Hokkaido University into leukemia cells extracted from patient bone marrow, the technology can determine how the cells respond to different drugs. Cells that respond to the drug appear blue, while those that do not respond appear yellow, allowing clinicians to identify effective therapies for individual patients before treatment begins.
Target Audience
The primary users are medical professionals treating CML, including hematologists and oncologists, as well as diagnostic laboratories.
Features
- Utilizes Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to detect BCR::ABL protein activity.
- Enables single-cell analysis of drug responsiveness.
- Differentiates drug-responsive cells (blue) from non-responsive cells (yellow) via fluorescence.
- Applicable before or during treatment.