TAmiRNA and Medical University of Vienna Advance Liver Surgery Safety with hepatomiR®

Vienna, Austria: Biotech and diagnostic innovator TAmiRNA has joined forces with the Medical University of Vienna to develop an innovative microRNA test (hepatomiR®) to improve safety in liver surgery.

The pioneering qPCR-based test is founded on original research by two of the university’s associate professors, Dr. Alice Assinger, Head of the Vienna Platelet Lab, and Dr. Patrick Starlinger, who heads the university’s TELL Translational and Experimental Liver Laboratory.

Their work on the mechanisms of circulating microRNAs complements original work done by TAmiRNA over the past decade.

Urgent medical need

This work has resulted in an easy-to-use CE-IVD-certified qPCR test for standardized determination of hepatocyte- and endothelial-derived microRNAs. The individual miRNA levels are converted into a liver function score (P-Score) to ascertain a patient´s liver function prior to partial hepatectomy. Partial hepatectomy is frequently used to treat early-stage primary or metastatic liver tumors.

The hepatomiR® test meets an urgent medical need with post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) as the most common cause of death following liver resection. Impaired liver function prior to surgery is considered a particular risk factor. Until now, there has been no precise method to objectively quantify liver function prior to surgery.

Drs. Assinger and Starlinger have been able to show that a specific combination of circulating microRNAs (miR-122-5p, miR-192-5p, and miR-151a-5p) can predict liver function and the risk of liver failure far more accurately than existing clinical parameters.

It is the first test of its kind in Europe and has been patented as a market-ready product. It is already in use at several medical centers, now including the Vienna General Hospital.

Establishing new technology

The technology has been secured through patent applications by the Medical University of Vienna and TAmiRNA, with a license agreement concluded between the two partners.

“These were important steps toward the market launch of an innovative new product.” said Andrea Kolbus from MedUni Vienna’s Technology Transfer department.

Dr. Patrick Starlinger commented: “Our aim is to significantly improve safety in liver surgery and minimize the risks for patients worldwide. The use of the hepatomiR® test at the Vienna General Hospital marks an important milestone in the dissemination of this innovation.”

Dr. Alice Assinger added: “The hepatomiR® test clearly demonstrates how basic research can translate from the lab bench to the bedside. This project serves as a role model for young researchers in showing that bold questions and collaboration with a strong team can lead to groundbreaking results.”

About TAmiRNA

TAmiRNA specializes in technologies for profiling blood-circulating miRNA levels and developing multi-parametric classification algorithms (“signatures”). TAmiRNA uses these technologies to develop minimal-invasive diagnostic tests for drug development, early diagnosis, and prognosis of disease, and as companion diagnostic tests to support treatment decisions. Through its CRO business, TAmiRNA enables clients from academic to private sectors to perform high-quality RNA profiling of various sample types and offers a fully integrated service from RNA extraction to data analysis. TAmiRNA has optimized its workflows for the comprehensive analysis of EV small and long RNA cargo.

TAmiRNA is among Europe´s first companies that have CE-marked a microRNA-based test – hepatomiR® – which is intended for the diagnosis of liver function in liver cancer patients.

For TAmiRNA´s work on novel drug safety biomarkers, TAmiRNA receives funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking “TransBioLine” under grant agreement No. 821283. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA. For its work on senescence-associated biomarkers, TAmiRNA is receiving funding from Eureka-Eurostars grant Ab-SENS. For its work on novel liver function biomarkers, TAmiRNA is receiving funding from the Vienna Business Agency as well as FFG.

More information available at: www.tamirna.com

Resources

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