Strand Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has secured an Indian patent for a blood-based technology designed to detect cancer at an early stage and identify the tissue of origin using a simple blood sample.
In a release, the Bengaluru-based genomics and diagnostics company said the patented platform combines cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis, genome sequencing, biologically informed methylation and fragmentomic feature extraction, quality control and artificial intelligence (AI)-based machine learning algorithms to detect cancer at an early stage.
Commenting on the development, Ramesh Hariharan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Strand Life Sciences, says, "Early detection is an increasingly relevant topic as cancer is becoming one of India's greatest public health challenges. This patent reflects our commitment to developing scientifically rigorous, AI-enabled liquid biopsy technologies that can help detect cancer earlier from a simple blood sample. We believe this innovation represents an important step towards making precision cancer screening more accurate, scalable, and accessible."
According to the company, the patented technology can accurately derive genome-wide methylation patterns from sequencing data with minimal loss or failure, improving the sensitivity of early cancer detection.
Cell-free DNA comprises fragments of DNA released into the bloodstream, including by cancer cells. Analysing these fragments enables the detection of tumours through a blood test without requiring invasive tissue biopsies. The platform also predicts the tissue of origin, helping clinicians identify where the cancer may have developed.
The company says cancer is one of India's fastest-growing public health challenges, with more than 1.5mn (million) new cases estimated every year. However, many patients are diagnosed only after the disease has reached an advanced stage, limiting treatment options and reducing the likelihood of better clinical outcomes.
According to Strand Life Sciences, earlier diagnosis could significantly improve treatment outcomes, but existing screening programmes cover only a limited number of cancers and remain difficult to scale.
The company says falling genome sequencing costs could make large-scale early cancer screening more feasible without requiring significant expansion of healthcare infrastructure.
According to the company, the patent strengthens its intellectual property portfolio in liquid biopsy technologies and supports its strategy of developing AI-powered molecular diagnostics for early cancer detection and precision oncology.
Originally established as a spin-off from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Strand Life Sciences develops genomic diagnostics and precision medicine solutions using bioinformatics, advanced laboratory testing and a network of hospital partners.
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