2Strands Biosciences
2Strands Biosciences is developing an accurate, affordable blood test to detect cancer recurrence early, aiding patients to navigate treatment with greater certainty and better outcomes.
Cancer remains one of the most formidable challenges faced by humanity, despite the tireless efforts of governments, scientists, and healthcare systems worldwide. Every year, cancer claims the lives of 10 million people. Even more concerning, recurrence—the return of cancer after treatment—is responsible for a majority of these deaths. Today, 50 million people around the globe live with a cancer diagnosis, haunted by the uncertainty of whether their disease might return. This anxiety stems from the limitations of current monitoring methods. Radiological imaging, the standard for detecting recurrence, can only identify tumors larger than 1mm in size, often leaving little time for effective intervention against aggressive secondary tumors.
But what if we could detect cancer recurrence earlier? What if we could see the signs before tumors grow large enough to become visible on scans? The future of cancer monitoring lies in blood tests based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). These tests offer the promise of early detection, but ctDNA is exceedingly rare in the bloodstream, particularly after initial treatments like surgery. Current technologies rely on ultra-deep next-generation sequencing to identify ctDNA, but this approach is both costly and less accurate, limiting its accessibility and impact.
This is where 2Strands comes in.
Pioneering a New Path
At 2Strands, we’re committed to transforming cancer monitoring through the development of a highly accurate and affordable blood test for ctDNA detection. Our mission is to make earlier and more effective recurrence monitoring accessible to millions of cancer patients worldwide.
The Genesis of 2Strands
The story of 2Strands begins with Debleena Ray. In her previous role, Debleena was involved in selecting technologies to support clinical trials for an oncology drug. During this time, she witnessed the immense potential of liquid biopsy technologies. However, she also identified two significant barriers: high costs and limited sensitivity. As a passionate scientist, Debleena began envisioning ways to overcome these challenges and make liquid biopsy technology accessible and affordable for patients across the globe. This vision became the foundation of 2Strands.
Debleena’s journey was supported by an extraordinary team of mentors and advisors. Hiromi Tagoh plays a vital role in technology development. Hiromi’s deep scientific expertise and hands-on approach to experimental design have been instrumental in refining 2Strands’ innovations. Another key player, Guy Heathers, brought decades of entrepreneurial experience to the team. As a seasoned expert in early-stage startups, Guy has provided invaluable guidance on strategy and operations, further solidifying 2Strands’ foundation.
From its beginnings as an idea on PowerPoint slides, 2Strands faced the challenge of securing resources to conduct proof-of-concept experiments. The partnership with Illumina for Startups accelerated this process, providing critical mentorship and support. Additional backing from NUS Medicine DATA Accelerator, Medtech Actuator Origin, and other members of Singapore’s vibrant startup ecosystem has been vital in helping to bring the vision of 2Strands to life.
Inside the Technology
2Strands MRD is an accurate yet affordable ctDNA-based blood test for monitoring cancer recurrence under development. The test detects mutations (and methylation in the future) in ctDNA, which are released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. Powered by an innovative target enrichment technology for next-generation sequencing, the test uses specially designed probes to focus on altered DNA fragments while filtering out normal (wild-type) DNA. An additional enzymatic process removes even more wild-type DNA, enhancing the focus on target DNA. This precise method enables the identification of extremely rare cancer-related DNA changes in the bloodstream with fewer sequencing reads, ensuring accuracy at a lower cost.
A Mission to Transform Lives
At 2Strands Biosciences, we’re on a mission to revolutionize cancer monitoring. By developing an innovative ctDNA-based blood test that is both accurate and affordable, we aim to address a critical unmet need in healthcare. Our goal is to empower millions of cancer patients with earlier detection, greater certainty, and better treatment outcomes.
The journey of 2Strands is one of passion, innovation, and collaboration— a journey fuelled by the unwavering belief that every patient deserves access to cutting-edge technology. Together, we’re bringing new hope to the fight against cancer. 
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