Glycanostics is an innovative start-up company established in 2017 to bring its revolutionary cancer diagnostics products to the US and EU markets. The company was founded by two remarkable scientists Jan Tkac, DSc and Tomas Bertok, PhD who got international recognition for their scientific works, prestigious grants and awards winners such as Scientists of the year (Slovakia), European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator grant, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions ITN, Qatar National Research Fund.
The mission of Glycanostics is to establish glycan-based, accurate, affordable and non-invasive tests for cancer diagnostics in early stages which could save thousands of people’s lives and prevent unnecessary treatment. Diagnostics is done by the analysis of glycan changes on specific proteins like a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a non-invasive way i.e. directly in human serum. Thus, molecular changes of the proteins like PSA are applied for cancer diagnostics. The tests are designed to help doctors to make a proper decision about a need to perform a biopsy or to check the patient after the biopsy which misses 30% of prostate cancer patients. Prostate cancer disease can be treatable and early diagnostics is the key!
Glycanostics product portfolio includes prostate cancer kit and home test. The cancer kit is in the pre-clinical validation stage, so far showing 95+% accuracy (100% assay sensitivity and 94% assay specificity), which is much more accurate than the most commonly used PSA test (83% assay sensitivity and 39% assay specificity).
The glycomics after genomics and
proteomics is often denoted as the third alphabet of molecular biology. Glycans
possess much higher combinatorial potential than nucleic acids and proteins, so
glycans can carry and code biological information at high density.
The “glycocode deciphering“ is done by
analysis of glycan changes on specific proteins like a prostate specific antigen
(PSA) in a non-invasive way i.e. directly in human serum. Thus, molecular
changes of the proteins like PSA are applied for cancer diagnostics. The tests
will be designed to help urologists making a proper decision about a need to
perform a biopsy.
Glycanostics is developing assay kits for other type of cancer, ex. breast cancer, and non-oncological diseases as well.
IP portfolio currently covers a European priority patent application directed to the concept of the invention (translated into method, use and kits claims) including diagnosis of prostate cancer by glycoprofiling.
Dr. Jan Tkac is known worldwide for his scientific contribution. He is the winner of many prestigious grants and awards such as Scientist of the year (Slovakia), European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator grant, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions ITN, Qatar National Research Fund.
Dr. Tkac professional background includes more than 20 years of scientific work in biotechnology industry in the world most prestigious universities. As a team leader he is responsible for development of various types of bioanalytical methods and assays protocols with focus on bioreceptive interface engineering for diagnostic purposes.
Together with Dr. Tomas Bertok, Dr. Tkac co-founded Glycanostics in 2017.
Dr. Tomas Bertok is focusing on technology validation, performing pre-clinical and restrospective validation studies, implementation of novel and innovative immobilisation and assay protocols to design early stage diagnostic kits.
For his remarkable scientific achievements Dr. Bertok was listed in Forbes Slovakia, was awarded by the president of the Slovak Republic for research activities in life sciences and also won BASF Slovakia and Danubius Young Scientist Award.
Together with Dr. Jan Tkac, Dr. Bertok co-founded Glycanostics in 2017.
