VolitionRx Partners to Launch DETECSEPS Program for Sepsis Management
News related to:VolitionRx Limited · 3 min read
VolitionRx Limited, a company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics, has joined forces with the Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), and IDS France to launch the DETECSEPS program in France. This initiative aims to revolutionize the management of sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to infection.
The DETECSEPS project was selected as a winner in the "Challenge Prevention" call for proposals launched by the French Health Innovation Agency, part of the France 2030 plan. The program will utilize Volition's Nu.Q® NETs, a biomarker that can be measured using the IDS i10® automated analyzer provided by IDS France. The goal is to identify patients at risk of developing sepsis upon arrival at the emergency department, allowing for more appropriate and timely care.
Professor Djillali Annane, Director of the IHU Sepsis and Head of the Intensive Care Medicine Department at the Raymond-Poincaré Hospital AP-HP, expressed the significance of the DETECSEPS program. "The launch of DETECSEPS marks a major milestone and, to our knowledge, a world first in the management of sepsis. Our ambition is to identify on arrival at the Emergency Department which patients with suspected infection are at risk of developing sepsis and require hospital care and which patients can be safely redirected home."
Dr. Andrew Retter, Medical Consultant at Volition, highlighted the potential of the Nu.Q® H3.1 Assay in enhancing the application and reliability of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2. "H3.1 levels can be routinely measured using the IDS i10® automated analyzer, with results available within one hour. The addition of the value of our biomarker could potentially enhance the application and reliability of NEWS 2 to triage the sickest patients."
The DETECSEPS program will specifically target the emergency departments of the Bichat-Claude-Bernard and Ambroise Paré AP-HP hospitals, as well as the reference medical biology laboratories of these two sites, which contribute to the National Reference Centers in the fight against infectious diseases. The project will also benefit from methodological support and biostatistical analysis provided by the AP-HP, medico-economic analysis from the URCEco, and public health expertise from the Public Health Department of the Raymond-Poincaré Hospital AP-HP.
Sepsis is a global health concern, responsible for approximately 21 million deaths annually worldwide. The rapid detection of sepsis is crucial to improve patient care and reduce mortality. Professor Sébastien Beaune, Emergency Department at the IHU SEPSIS and Coordinating Investigator of the DETECSEPS program, emphasized the importance of early detection. "The DETECSEPS project aims to detect sepsis early in emergency facilities. It is estimated that sepsis is responsible for nearly 57,000 deaths per year in France. This project will evaluate an early detection device, based on the combination of a clinical score used routinely and a specific blood biomarker, Nu.Q® NETs H3.1, in order to quantify the risk of progression to sepsis and quickly initiate appropriate measures and treatments."
VolitionRx Limited's involvement in the DETECSEPS program underscores its commitment to operationalizing the understanding of epigenetics in clinical practice. The company hopes that through the earlier identification of sepsis, lives can be saved, the quality of life of survivors can be improved, and the burden on healthcare systems can be reduced. With approximately 166 million sepsis cases annually, Volition estimates the opportunity for testing represents a multi-billion dollar Total Addressable Market.
The DETECSEPS program is part of the broader mission of the IHU SEPSIS, which aims to accelerate the transition from scientific discoveries to practical solutions that can be directly used at the patient's bedside. This initiative represents a significant step towards improving the management of sepsis and potentially saving lives.