Public Funding for Ourotech Limited

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are two of the most challenging gastrointestinal diseases to treat. HCC and PDAC have the worst outcome of all liver and pancreatic cancers respectively, with over 80% and 95% 2-year recurrence (cancer coming back) after surgery, owing to a lack of efficient, targeted treatments and means of matching patients with the correct stream of treatment. Pear Bio have developed an organ-on-a-chip technology and computer vision pipeline through which various therapeutic regimens can be tested simultaneously on patient tumours. This technology consists of a micro-scale system used for mimicking human tumours and model cancer behaviour in the lab (organ-on-a-chip), combining the use of human cancer cells, hydrogels, microfluidics and image analysis. With this, Pear Bio is able to test different treatments on a patient's own tumour, outside of their body, predicting which one is going to be more beneficial for that specific patient, and which ones are ineffective. This innovative technology represents a breakthrough in personalised cancer care, helping oncologists avoid treatments that provide patients with no benefit, thus minimising unnecessary side effects, improving patient outcomes and likelihood of survival, and saving the NHS critical resources and expenditure. With PEAR-PAL, Pear Bio aims to expand the tool's clinical utility to high unmet need cancers, namely advanced pancreatic and liver. We will be collaborating with King's College Hospital in order to source fresh PDAC and HCC patient samples. Samples will be cultured in Pear Bio's proprietary organ-on-a-chip technology and tested against various treatment regimes in the Pear Bio test (5 days). Multiple metrics are measured and visualised, including cell viability, the shrinking/growth of the tumour, cell migration and speed. This data is compiled into a report that will allow an oncologist to weigh treatment options and proceed with an effective treatment. Collaboration with London IVD will enable a comprehensive assessment of Pear Bio's test route to market, commercialisation strategy, health economics as well as patient and public engagement. As this study is non-interventional, patient safety, health or choice of treatment will not be affected. At the conclusion of this project, further collaborations will be used to run clinical trials for regulatory approval of the diagnostic test in pancreatic and liver cancers. In future studies, Pear Bio's test will be run prior to the start of therapy as a treatment selection tool, aiming to guide oncologists in their choice of regimen for any given patient.