Meco Diagnostics

We are a venture-backed startup with the only clinically validated biomarker test to match breast cancer patients with antifibrotic therapy—a breakthrough targeted therapy that represents a fundamentally new way to treat breast cancer. MeCo Diagnostics traces its origins to the oldest observation in cancer biology: tumors often grow stiffer than surrounding tissue, due to fibrosis, which produces a palpable lump. However, not all cancer cells are responsive to fibrotic stiffness, but those that are become “Mechanically Conditioned,” akin to deadly, microscopic machines programmed to wreak havoc as they spread throughout the body. Fortunately, there are both old and new antifibrotic drugs that can be repurposed/repositioned to deprogram these dangerous cancer cells. This serendipity has empowered us to develop a commercially viable, biomarker-enabled drug repurposing/repositioning approach to augment standard treatments. Our landmark Phase 2 randomized controlled trial demonstrated the greatest long-term survival benefit ever reported for a targeted therapy in the history of breast oncology: Antifibrotic therapy resulted in a 62% reduction in risk of recurrence over 9.7 years for High MeCo patients, while Low MeCo patients experienced no benefit at all. The MeCo Score, our lead asset, has been rigorously evaluated in 4 studies, comprised of patients total. We have collaborated with oncologists at Cleveland Clinic, George Washington University, USC, University of Arizona, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), and the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO). Moreover, since MeCo Score matches patients with a generic-emergent drug, the cost of targeted antifibrotic therapy will soon be >10X cheaper than any other targeted therapy for patients with high-risk tumors. Patients benefit from improved survival, and patients/payers benefit from lower treatment costs; thus, we are facilitating a unique win-win opportunity. Join our mission.