PExA partner in Dutch precision medicine project within COPD and interstitial lung diseases
PExA has become an industrial partner in the Dutch research project COPD-PARASOL-ILD, which forms part of the national precision medicine initiative P4O2. The project aims to identify and validate biomarkers for improved diagnosis and treatment monitoring in chronic lung diseases such as COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Other partners in the project are amongst others the Duch universities, Amsterdam UMC, UMC Groningen and Utrecht University.
Within the project, PExA’s patented research instrument will be used at Amsterdam UMC for non-invasive sampling from the small airways, where many lung diseases originate.
The COPD-PARASOL-ILD project focuses on developing methods for earlier detection of lung diseases and their progression. A central objective is to deepen the understanding of molecular mechanisms in interstitial lung disease (ILD), an umbrella term for several lung disorders affecting the supportive tissue of the lungs.
Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), an invasive method to collect samples from deep within the lungs, is currently used in clinical practice for part of the ILD patients during the diagnostic work-up and those samples provide valuable information for the diagnosis and on pathophysiological mechanisms within the lungs. However, this procedure is not available to all patients because of increased risks for complications. PExA sampling may be a non-invasive and safe alternative for BAL analysis which would make it accessible for all ILD patients. By collecting data and biological samples from both healthy individuals and patients, the goal is to identify biomarkers that may form the basis for improved diagnostics and future treatment strategies.
PExA’s technology enables the collection of biomolecules from the deepest parts of the lungs through a simple exhalation maneuver. The non-invasive method is well suited for comparative clinical studies and repeated measurements over time.
- Our strategic goal is to transition from a technology primarily used in research settings to one that, over time, may be broadly applied within diagnostics in both healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. This project is therefore highly interesting, as it connects academia and industry in the effort to develop improved diagnostic tools and treatments, says Tomas Gustafsson, CEO of PExA.
About COPD-PARASOL-ILD:
The COPD-PARASOL-ILD project is a project of the Precision Medicine for more Oxygen P4O2 consortium. The collaboration project [HH-PPS-24002-PPP] is co-funded by PPP Subsidy awarded by Health~Holland, to stimulate public-private partnerships.
Read more about COPD-PARASOL-ILD project and the participants at the P4O2 webpage:
https://p4o2.org/projects/copd-parasol-ild/
For further information, please contact:
Tomas Gustafsson, CEO, info@pexa.se
About PExA AB:
PExA AB PExA AB (556956-9246) has developed the PExA 2.1, a patented research instrument that helps researchers intelligently collect biological samples from the smallest airways through a simple exhalation maneuver. PExA’s technology is currently used by prominent research groups in several different countries and research with the instrument has resulted in approximately 50 scientific publications, which serve as reference material for PExA’s method. The company’s long-term goal is to market and sell diagnostic instruments for popular diseases (e.g. lung cancer and COPD) to be used globally for diagnosis or general screening at facilities where care is offered. The company intends at the time it is relevant to sell to clinics to have developed more patient-friendly, flexible and commercial products, which means that PExA addresses a significantly wider market, which today includes several million patients globally.
PExA’s B share is listed on the Spotlight Stock Market.