Mighty mitochondria
How MDNA’s mitochondrial markers could diagnose diseases earlier
MDNA Life Sciences Inc. thinks circulating mitochondrial DNA holds the key to early, non-invasive detection of a host of diseases. Having launched its first mitochondrial-based diagnostic in October - a prostate cancer blood test dubbed Prostate Mitomic Test - the company is pushing ahead with a suite of mitochondrial biomarkers for a variety of cancers and other diseases. Next up is endometriosis.
MDNA CEO Christopher Mitton told BioCentury that endometriosis is a good candidate for the company’s technology because oxidative stress and mutations in mitochondrial genes have been linked to the disease and the current standard of care involves laproscopic surgery to sample the misplaced tissue. In addition, he noted that on average there is a nine-year delay between symptom onset to definitive diagnosis...