VolitionRx Ltd is a Singapore-registered life sciences company that develops novel, early diagnostic tests for cancer and other conditions. Its patented technology is based on the identification and quantification of increased presence of specific nucleosomes that are released into the bloodstream or other bodily fluids, as a result of cell death associated with certain diseases including cancer. Although the US-listed company’s research and development (R&D) activities are based in Belgium, it seeks clinical research and trial collaboration opportunities with Singapore’s hospitals and research organizations to demonstrate the performance of its technology in the detection of cancer related diseases such as colorectal and ovarian cancers.
Ovarian cancer, which has an overall five-year survival rate of about 50%, causes subtle symptoms which are frequently absent in early stage onset. Early detection is crucial for the treatment of cancer. However, the recommended screening for ovarian cancer is annual pelvic examination for women, which is usually only palpable in advanced stages of the cancer. This results in late discovery of ovarian cancers leading to poor prognostic outcome. VolitionRx’s technology has the potential to detect the cancer at an early stage through a simple and minimally invasive blood test. Currently, the company is conducting clinical trials to support commercialization of their test kits.
When VolitionRx faced challenges in communicating the novelty and versatility of its invention – the first of its kind – to hospitals and research institutes in Singapore, it approached IPI for assistance on scientific communication and matching their technology to suitable partners. After internally assessing the science and market potential behind VolitionRx’s platform technology, IPI, through IPI’s TechMatch services, identified potential partners who are capable of carrying out application-centric research and clinical trials. One of these partners is SingHealth, which is Singapore’s largest public healthcare provider, and is part of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.
IPI connected VolitionRx to SingHealth and diligently followed through as liaison between the Belgium-based R&D team and Singapore-based SingHealth to successfully meet the project’s goals. IPI also facilitated the collaboration exploration process between both parties, which stretched for about two years due to intricacy of matching the most appropriate principal investigator who could conduct the clinical trials in detecting early stage ovarian cancer. As a result of the relationship, VolitionRx and SingHealth’s Singapore General Hospital (SGH) concluded an agreement to commence a pilot study to establish the feasibility of VolitionRx’s proprietary NuQ® assays in detecting ovarian cancer.
Cameron Reynolds, CEO of VolitionRx, said: “IPI’s contacts in the healthcare sector in Singapore are first-rate. The team at IPI took a sophisticated approach in matching us with SingHealth, and we look forward to continuously work closely with them as we seek further partnerships in Singapore and in the region.”
Ovarian cancer presents a significant clinical challenge due to its subtle symptoms and the absence of reliable early-stage indicators. With an overall five-year survival rate of about 50%, the disease is often detected only in advanced stages, as current recommended screening methods—such as annual pelvic examinations—are typically effective only when the cancer is already palpable. This late detection leads to poor prognostic outcomes for many patients. Recognizing the urgent need for improved early detection, VolitionRx developed a proprietary technology capable of identifying ovarian cancer at an early stage through a simple, minimally invasive blood test. However, despite the promise of its innovation, VolitionRx encountered difficulties in communicating the novelty and versatility of its platform to hospitals and research institutes in Singapore. The company needed to demonstrate the clinical value of its technology and secure local partnerships to conduct application-centric research and clinical trials, which are critical for supporting commercialization and adoption in the region.
IPI Singapore facilitated VolitionRx’s entry into the Singapore healthcare ecosystem by providing scientific communication support and leveraging its TechMatch services to identify and connect the company with suitable research and clinical partners. After a thorough internal assessment of VolitionRx’s platform technology and its market potential, IPI matched the company with leading institutions capable of conducting application-centric research and clinical trials. IPI played an instrumental role by connecting VolitionRx to SingHealth, Singapore’s largest public healthcare provider, and acting as a liaison between VolitionRx’s Belgium-based R&D team and the Singapore-based SingHealth team. Over a two-year collaboration exploration process, IPI diligently facilitated discussions and helped identify the most appropriate principal investigator to lead the clinical trials for early-stage ovarian cancer detection. This strategic partnership culminated in an agreement between VolitionRx and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) to commence a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of VolitionRx’s proprietary NuQ® assays in detecting ovarian cancer.
"IPI’s contacts in the healthcare sector in Singapore are first-rate. The team at IPI took a sophisticated approach in matching us with SingHealth, and we look forward to continuously work closely with them as we seek further partnerships in Singapore and in the region."
VolitionRx Ltd is a Singapore-registered life sciences company focused on developing novel, early diagnostic tests for cancer and other conditions. Leveraging its patented technology, VolitionRx identifies and quantifies specific nucleosomes released into bodily fluids as a result of cell death associated with diseases such as cancer. While its R&D activities are based in Belgium, the US-listed company actively seeks clinical research and trial collaborations with Singapore’s hospitals and research organizations to demonstrate the performance of its technology in detecting cancer-related diseases.