Uniogen is making real progress in the early detection of ovarian cancer. Our latest study shows that the GLYVAR® Ovarian assays outperform traditional tests, especially in catching cancer early when it matters most.

Study shows it: clear improvement compared to CA-125

A newly published study in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, conducted in collaboration with the University Hospital of Essen, showcases the performance of our GLYVAR® Ovarian I and II assays. The findings of the study showed that our GLYVAR® Ovarian I and II assays can detect ovarian cancer much more effectively than the traditional CA-125 test: 2.5 times better in women with borderline CA-125 levels, and with a 66% higher detection rate for early-stage high-grade serous carcinomas!

These findings represent a significant leap forward in Uniogen’s mission to enable earlier and more accurate cancer detection. The GLYVAR® test is currently available as a Research Use Only (RUO) product, with the next milestone being its introduction for diagnostic use.

Insights from the Early Detection of Cancer Conference

The results of the recent study were presented in a poster at the Early Detection of Cancer Conference, which took place in Portland, USA, a couple of weeks ago. This was a great opportunity to share our work with other researchers as well as hear their opinions and thoughts.
Beyond presenting our research, we also gained valuable insights from the scientific community. Our Oncology CSO, Kaisa Huhtinen, attended the conference and shared some thought-provoking reflections:

“The debates around whether randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still the gold standard for cancer screening, and whether early detection truly extends lifespan, were especially interesting. These are some of the biggest challenges in the early cancer diagnostics field.”

Kaisa noted that while RCTs are essential for demonstrating the benefits of cancer screening, demonstrating death reduction requires extremely lengthy and expensive studies. In the worst-case scenario, they take so long that the technology being tested becomes outdated before the study is completed. This highlights the need for alternative study endpoints.

“It’s good to remember that early detection alone does not save lives but enables timely treatment. The outcomes we measure often reflect that combined effect.”

The conference also showcased exciting new technologies for identifying and detecting novel biomarkers present in the earliest stages of cancer. Unsurprisingly, AI’s role in early detection was a major theme across sessions.

“One of the most eye-opening discussions for me was about how to bring early detection to underserved communities and minority populations. The socioeconomic challenges are significant in many countries, which is something we don’t face as acutely in Finnish healthcare.”

This conference again showed that the need for reliable early cancer detection is well recognized. Uniogen’s GLYVAR® Ovarian test stands out with its promising potential to offer distinct advantages over other methods. While many recent early detection studies focus on ctDNA or multi-cancer early detection tests, our test uses very different technology, which is easy to apply in laboratory environment without specific sample preparation procedures, expensive equipment, or data analysis tools. This accessibility ensures that diverse healthcare settings can benefit from effective early detection solutions.

 

At Uniogen, we are proud to be part of this global conversation and to contribute solutions that are not only scientifically robust but also practical and inclusive. We believe that accessible innovation is key to making early cancer detection a reality for all.

 

Next up: MEDICA 2025!

We are excited to continue the conversation on early cancer detection and share more about our latest developments at MEDICA, one of the world’s leading medical trade fairs. If you’re attending, we’d love to connect and explore how we can shape the future of diagnostics together.