Metabolomx Receives Grant for Lung Cancer Detection Technology

A Mountain View, CA-based diagnostic company Metabolomx has declared that the National Cancer Institute has provided the company with a small business innovation research (SBIR) grant worth $1.14 million.

The Phase 1/11 fast track SBIR contract will be directed towards the R&D of the sensor array system for the detection of lung cancer. The proprietary Metabolomx lung detection technology can identify the molecular fingerprint of the cancer by using a sampling of metabolites obtained from exhaled breath. The developed system is being studied at the Cleveland Clinic in a lung cancer screening study.

The Chief Executive Officer of Metabolomx, Dr Paul Rhodes stated that active tumors produce tiny molecule metabolites, which can be found in exhaled breath. The cancer detection system developed by Metabolomx is a non-invasive system that can facilitate an early detection of the cancer. Dr Rhodes expressed gratitude for the grant received from the cancer institute stating that it will help in validating the technology for breath analysis for various cancers that include breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.