Cleo Diagnostics (ASX:COV) is marking Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in February by reinforcing the urgent and ongoing need for earlier, more accurate detection of this deadly cancer affecting women.
Ovarian cancer remains notoriously difficult to diagnose at an early stage, with symptoms that are often vague, non-specific and easily mistaken for less serious conditions. Compounding the challenge, there is currently no validated diagnostic test for ovarian cancer, with confirmation typically only achieved following invasive surgery. As a result, many women are diagnosed once the disease has already progressed, limiting treatment options and significantly worsening outcomes.
The consequences of delayed diagnosis remain stark. More than half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years, a mortality rate more than six times higher than that of breast cancer, where five-year mortality sits closer to eight per cent. These figures underscore the scale of the unmet clinical need and the importance of innovation in diagnostic pathways.
Cleo Diagnostics is focused on addressing this gap through the development of a simple blood test designed to support earlier assessment of ovarian cancer and improve outcomes for women globally. The test is underpinned by more than 15 years of research and development, centred on the discovery of the novel biomarker CXCL10, which has demonstrated superior performance compared with the current standard of care. The company is progressing toward its first commercial market, with a submission to the US Food and Drug Administration anticipated later this year.
Commenting on the significance of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Dayna Louca, Head of Corporate Development at Cleo Diagnostics, said the campaign served as an important reminder of the challenges associated with early detection and the critical role diagnostics play in improving survival outcomes.
She said Cleo believes its ovarian cancer blood test has the potential to fundamentally change the detection landscape, helping to deliver earlier diagnoses and better health outcomes for women worldwide.