A Better Way: How Nanostics is Revolutionizing Prostate Cancer Detection

“Any jurisdiction in the world can adopt our test. It’s got huge potential.” Nanostics Chief Commercialization Officer Colin Coros

In the realm of medical innovation, success stories often find their roots in personal journeys. Such is the case with Nanostics, a pioneering company in the field of prostate cancer diagnostics. The tale begins with Frank Sojonky, an Alberta businessman, who, upon facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, embarked on a mission to revolutionize the landscape of prostate cancer research and testing.

Sojonky’s dissatisfaction with the lack of focus on prostate cancer research in Alberta led to the creation of the Bird Dogs for Prostate Cancer Research organization in partnership with the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The organization ultimately raised more than $20 million to establish a translational research program, known as the Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative, headed by CEO Dr. John Lewis. It evolved into the world's largest repository for prostate cancer patient samples, and with a focus on translation, those samples became instrumental in developing new therapeutics and diagnostic tests.

The pivotal moment arrived in 2017 when Nanostics emerged as a spin-out from this groundbreaking program, says Chief Commercialization Officer, Colin Coros, Recognizing the limitations and risks of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, the standard diagnostic test for detecting prostate cancer, the team knew there had to be a better way. Over the next five years, the Nanostics team worked on developing a new, less invasive, and much more accurate test for diagnosing prostate cancer. The culmination of their efforts was unveiled in October 2023 with the ClarityDX Prostate, marking a significant leap forward in prostate cancer screening.

“Men want this test because it's better than the PSA test, and it may help them avoid an unnecessary biopsy,” Coros says. “We’ve actually had men come in from out of province to access it because of those benefits.”

Nanostics' diagnostic test boasts three times the accuracy of the standard (PSA) test, which has long been the cornerstone of prostate cancer screening. The PSA test, while widely adopted, presents a considerable challenge due to its high false-positive rate— up to 80% of men with elevated PSA levels do not actually have cancer. Nanostics' test, born out of extensive research and leveraging a vast patient sample repository, addresses this issue head-on. The impact of Nanostics' test is substantial. It has the potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies by up to 35%, significantly improving patient care and detection rates. The test, performed in a clinical setting and prescribed by physicians, serves as a reflex to the PSA test. 

What sets Nanostics apart is not just the innovation behind the test but the company’s success at launching its medical innovation within the Alberta market, which has typically been slower to adopt new health technology.

As Coros notes, Alberta's single-payer health system provides a unique opportunity for swift adoption of innovative tests. Partnering early with Alberta Precision Laboratories (formerly Dynalife) helped facilitate the commercialization process, he points out. 

“They really embraced us early on, and made it much easier for us to commercialize first in Alberta because of that partnership,” Coros says. “It highlights the opportunities that a system can benefit from if it embraces early innovation and sets up the mechanisms to do it.” 

Nanostics is accredited to serve the entire country and is currently working on developing partnerships to expand its distribution network across Canada, the United States, and Europe. 

“It’s a really simple test and it’s scalable. Any jurisdiction in the world can adopt our test. It’s got huge potential,” Coros says. 

The significance of Nanostics' breakthrough extends beyond prostate cancer. The company is actively developing iterations of its test for different stages of the prostate care pathway, including a bladder test and cardiac testing.

While celebrating its success, Nanostics faces the broader challenge of shifting the paradigm of healthcare innovation in Canada. The company's experience highlights the need for early translational research partnerships between the health system, academia, and the private sector. Overcoming the traditional resistance to innovation in healthcare, especially in provinces like Alberta, involves showcasing success stories that demonstrate the compatibility of early-stage technologies with the existing system.

As Nanostics continues to make strides in prostate cancer diagnostics, the hope is that their journey serves as an inspiration for a more innovative and adaptive healthcare system in Canada. 

“We really hope we serve as an example of how developing links with the healthcare system and early stage technologies early on help with quicker adoption,” says Coros.