Osteosarcoma Prognostic Test
Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer in children, and the third most common of any cancer in teens. Each year, ~400 children in the US are diagnosed. Venn’s PRI to the University of Minnesota under a new technology transfer funding model will help advance a promising prognostic test for Osteosarcoma toward market and ultimately to patients.
Nathalia (Nat) Hawley was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 12. She spent the next three years working with Children's Cancer Research Fund inspiring thousands and helping raise millions of dollars for Osteosarcoma research, including for Dr. Modiano's work at the University of Minnesota described below. Nat passed away in 2019 at the age of 15.
What is a Prognostic Test?
A body of work from University of Minnesota scientists over the past decade suggests that children with Osteosarcoma generally fall into one of two groups – those with a less aggressive form of the cancer (Group A) and those with a more aggressive form (Group B).
Children in Group A have a good chance of being alive in 10 years, while those in Group B do not.
Knowing if a given child with Osteosarcoma falls into Group A or Group B (the child's "prognosis") could have a huge impact on what kind of treatment he or she receives. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine this today.
Promising Approach in Dogs
While Osteosarcoma is rare in humans, it is extremely common in dogs.
For this reason, Dr. Modiano, a veterinary pathologist at the University of Minnesota, has been studying the disease in dogs and gathering data with the hope of applying the findings to human Osteosarcoma, which behaves similarly.
Dr. Modiano’s research has led to a technology that can identify Osteosarcoma signatures from blood samples for dogs. This technology will be licensed to a company, which plans to take it to market for veterinarians.
Can it work for humans as well? If so, the University believes it could lead to a valuable prognostic test for children with Osteosarcoma.
Dr. Modiano is a veterinary pathologist at the University of Minnesota.
Recipient Name: University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization
Amount Raised: $302,500
Overview of Investment Terms:
Variation of Recoverable Grant
If the University earns revenue from the license, the University will split it with Venn on a 50/50 basis up until a maximum 3X return of the original Venn funding.