OUR MISSION
RJS Mediagnostix is developing a point of care office lateral flow strip assay (LFSA) test for primary care physicians to rapidly diagnose laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), detect early signs of erosive reflux disease and find evidence of early head and neck and esophageal cancer. A highly specific and sensitive salivary biomarker test can also limit the need for upper endoscopy in many situations, which will enable healthcare systems to avoid significant unnecessary costs.
RJS Mediagnostix is developing a point of care office lateral flow strip assay (LFSA) test for primary care physicians to rapidly diagnose laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), detect early signs of erosive reflux disease and find evidence of early head and neck and esophageal cancer. A highly specific and sensitive salivary biomarker test can also limit the need for upper endoscopy in many situations, which will enable healthcare systems to avoid significant unnecessary costs.
LPR is the number one contributor to upper respiratory disease and often requires an Otolaryngologist for diagnosis. Esophageal cancer is the 8th most common cancer in the United States and is growing 4% annually. We conducted market research from 300 primary care, which showed significant interest in this simple office test.
We recently completed a pilot trial with promising results and we are doing some slight LFSA modification for additional quantification data. Patents are pending in the US, Australia, Europe and Canada and we are designing a pivotal trial with the plan to get a CPT insurance code with this trial, as nothing like this exists in the market.
We also believe we have identified key biomarkers that will allow for in office salivary tests for early detection for other cancers such as Pancreatic, Renal and Ovarian. We will pursue the development of these tests in the future as well.
Our interdisciplinary team of founders includes Dr. Balwant Rai, a salivary biomarker scientist from Denmark, Jim Miller, a regulatory affairs expert with 30 years experience in Class III and Class II medical devices/ biotechnology products and myself, a 24-year practicing Otolaryngologist.
We have also built an impressive Medical Advisory board to help assist in our continued growth. The board includes members such as Rena Yadlapati, MD (Medical director of the center of esophageal diseases at UCSF), Betsy Gross (Head of Global access value and economics for Intuitive), Jim Cross, MD former VP and former head of National Medical Policy and Operations for Aetna healthcare insurance and Dr. Jasdeep Kaur, PHD Salivary Biomarkers.
To date, we raised $450,000 in a seed round. RJS is looking to raise an additional 10 million in a Series A financing to complete our pivotal research and development, with note conversion at that time.
Non invasive, salivary testing is an untapped gateway to the health of an individual and is underutilized but can give clinicians as much health information as Urine and Blood.