Diagnovus, a Nashville, Tenn.-based startup, has entered into an agreement with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to develop and distribute an assay that focuses on a chronic digestive disorder. The test, known as ENGAUGE GI-EoE, focuses on the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus that can make swallowing difficult and can even induce vomiting. Commonly known as EOE, it affects both children and adults, and research suggests it may be caused by an allergen. Data on how many Americans have the disorder are scant, as International Classification of Diseases codes for EOE were not approved until 2009. The current pathway for diagnosing the disorder includes multiple biopsies of the esophagus. Oftentimes, patients diagnosed with EOE may actually be afflicted with gastroesophogeal reflux disorder, or GERD, or a variety of autoimmune diseases. Diagnovus expects to develop a test that would analyze 96 specific genes associated with EOE. A biopsy would still be required, but diagnoses of the disorder would be far more accurate. Much of the genetic research required for the test has already been performed by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “We are proud to collaborate with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on this disease and believe the results from […]
Diagnovus, a Nashville, Tenn.-based startup, has entered into an agreement with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to develop and distribute an assay that focuses on a chronic digestive disorder.
The test, known as ENGAUGE GI-EoE, focuses on the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus that can make swallowing difficult and can even induce vomiting. Commonly known as EOE, it affects both children and adults, and research suggests it may be caused by an allergen. Data on how many Americans have the disorder are scant, as International Classification of Diseases codes for EOE were not approved until 2009.
The current pathway for diagnosing the disorder includes multiple biopsies of the esophagus. Oftentimes, patients diagnosed with EOE may actually be afflicted with gastroesophogeal reflux disorder, or GERD, or a variety of autoimmune diseases.
Diagnovus expects to develop a test that would analyze 96 specific genes associated with EOE. A biopsy would still be required, but diagnoses of the disorder would be far more accurate. Much of the genetic research required for the test has already been performed by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“We are proud to collaborate with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on this disease and believe the results from this partnership will help many children and adult patients battling this difficult illness,” said James Stover, Diagnovus’s president.
The parties have not disclosed a timeline for test development and distribution.
Founded in 2011, Diagnovus focuses on testing for diseases and disorders that have been difficult to diagnose using traditional testing methods. Last year, it introduced two esoteric assays. One test helped tailor treatments for patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The other assay determined if patients with Barrett’s Esophagus had a risk of developing cancer, and what form it might take.
Takeaway: Diagnovus is continuing to develop esoteric testing that focuses on medical conditions difficult to diagnose or treat.
