SAGA Diagnostics co-financed in the EU Commission’s TIGER grant of EUR 6.9 million led by eTheRNA Immunotherapies

LUND, Sweden — /March 23, 2021/ — SAGA Diagnostics AB, a cancer liquid biopsy and genomic testing company focused on precision oncology and non-invasive ultrasensitive monitoring of cancer patients, today announces the participation in the EU H2020 funded consortium grant TIGER together with seven other partners and led by eTheRNA Immunotherapies.

The €6.9 million grant is provided to deliver a proof of principle in humans for a novel best-in-class therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine platform optimized for intravenous administration and to prepare for the next stage of development. The phase 1/2a trial will enroll patients with recurrent/metastatic Human Papilloma Virus strain 16 positive (HPV16+) cancer. Representing participants from four countries, the consortium also includes the European Cancer Patient Coalition, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Saint-Luc University Clinics, BiotechSubsidy, Ceratium B.V., and Radiomics, in addition to eTheRNA and SAGA.

eTheRNA is very grateful to receive this grant for one of their key projects and to be able to work with distinguished partners. This collaboration will enable eTheRNA to progress the development of a promising mRNA IV vaccine and show the potential of the LNP mRNA platform – allowing to use in other cancer types with existing medical needs.
– Dr. Marina Cools, VP of Clinical Development at eTheRNA immunotherapies

SAGA Diagnostics will in the course of this project develop custom-made SAGAsafe^® dPCR assays that will be used to monitor circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from patients at baseline and during treatment. SAGAsafe^® technology is a patented enhancement of digital PCR offering a limit of detection that is up to 100x increased in comparison with competitor methods. SAGAsafe^® technology will be used to detect and quantify HPV in tissue samples as well as blood plasma within the clinical studies.

SAGA is excited to be part of this EU-supported TIGER collaboration where we will develop ultrasensitive SAGAsafe^® assays and measure therapy response using blood samples from patients treated for HPV-induced cancers.
– Dr. Johanna Asklin, Director of Operations at SAGA Diagnostics

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 945011.

Contact:

CEO Lao Saal, MD PhD.  [email protected]  Phone: +46 (0) 733 01 7242

About SAGA Diagnostics AB
SAGA Diagnostics is a personalized cancer genomics and disease monitoring company that offers molecular genetic testing of tissue biopsies and non-invasive “liquid biopsies” such as blood samples. SAGA helps pharmaceutical companies, scientists, and healthcare providers to detect actionable mutations, stratify patient groups, and monitor treatment response more accurately and to an industry-leading lower limit of detection of 0.001%. Analysis of circulating tumor DNA using its proprietary technologies gives SAGA unique ultrasensitivity, and provides the basis for optimal decision-making.