Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd’s (ASX: PIQ) proof-of-concept study has identified multiple novel protein biomarkers for obstructive airway disease.
These biomarkers, once validated, have the potential to deliver a new diagnostic test for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Proteomics International will now file a patent application covering screening, diagnostic and prognostic methods of using these airway disease biomarkers.
The results of the study were presented at the 27th Lorne Proteomics Symposium, Victoria, the annual conference of the Australasian Proteomics Society.
The results showed multiple protein biomarkers were statistically significant in identifying specific types of airway disease. Obstructive airway disease is a heterogeneous condition that includes asthma, COPD and bronchitis with many common symptoms including breathing difficulty, chronic cough, and respiratory infection.
Diagnosis is often subjective and can rely upon clinical judgement rather than objective findings, with early and more accurate diagnosis needed for improved patient outcomes.
The proof-of-concept study was performed in collaboration with the Busselton Population Medical Research Institute, and analysed plasma samples from 75 individuals with a range of symptoms including airway obstruction, atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and healthy controls.
Clinical Professor Alan James, a consultant respiratory physician and chair of the Busselton Population Medical Research Institute, said doctors currently use physiological tests to diagnose and assess severity of airway disease.
These tests of lung function and structure are useful in investigating common symptoms such as cough and breathlessness,” Professor James said.
“However, they do not necessarily reflect the various underlying pathologies which cause abnormal structure and function and which may respond differently to different treatments.”
“Once the disease is advanced, interventions are less effective because damage to the lungs from COPD cannot be reversed with current treatments.
“Accurate and early identification of these common conditions and differentiation of phenotypes (sub-types) of airway disease can allow early intervention with directed therapy, resulting in improved patient outcomes.”
In Australia, asthma affects 11% of the total population, whilst COPD affects 4.8% of adults over 45 years old – approximately 3.2 million people in total – and collectively asthma and COPD cost the Australian health system an estimated $1.7 billion in 2016 .
Worldwide, COPD is the third leading cause of death, causing 3.2 million deaths in 2019.
The company will now work with its collaborators to validate the biomarkers in larger clinical cohorts and refine the panel of biomarkers into a working diagnostic test for obstructive airway disease. This additional analysis is expected to be performed over the next 12-18 months.
Proteomics International managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe said these latest biomarker results further highlight the power of the Company’s Promarker technology platform, and build upon its experience acquired in developing the PromarkerD assay, the world’s first test for predicting diabetic kidney disease. “
The recent success validating biomarkers for oesophageal cancer and the clinical validation study progressing for an endometriosis diagnostic are part of a rich pipeline of novel diagnostic tests in development. These all target areas of significant unmet medical need and each has the potential to generate significant value for our company.”