Managing Cancer Through Molecular Expertise, Technology

Q: How are you advancing personalized cancer treatments across Latin America?

A: The healthcare sector is fundamentally different from many other industries due to its regulatory complexities and the need for medical education and physician engagement. New developments are often accompanied by efforts to educate and convince healthcare providers about the latest advances in the field.

Q: What alliance have you built with stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, and how do they benefit patients?

A: We have allied with Sura, a leading South American insurance company with a strong presence in Colombia. As part of this collaboration, we are leveraging our experiences in Mexico, particularly with our cancer risk calculator: OncoCheck. This calculator was tailored to the Mexican population, and our goal is to adapt it to the needs of other Latin American countries, helping our colleagues in the region identify individuals at higher risk.

This year has been pivotal for us. As we focus on the private sector, we recognize that there are many players in the healthcare space. While the treating physician plays a critical role, another key player is the payer — particularly the medical underwriting teams in major medical expense insurance. Insurers are increasingly open to exploring new advances. There are many technologies still in the early stages of clinical validation, and it is exciting to see the potential they offer. Insurers are eager to listen and start implementing new technologies that can provide tangible benefits to patients.

Theranomics focuses on delivering patient-centric solutions. While sales and numbers matter, our priority is to measure the true impact we have on patients' lives in Mexico. Access and coverage are critical, and once secured, we work with the entire healthcare chain.

Q: What innovative solutions is the company introducing to improve cancer management?

A: We have shifted the company’s purpose. We previously focused on saving one life at a time; we now aim to make cancer a manageable disease, not a death sentence. This shift has led to a stronger internal alignment and a more focused approach. A key challenge in cancer treatment is selecting the right therapy. While personalized medicine, particularly genomics, has revolutionized healthcare, targeted treatments rarely work alone. They are often combined with chemotherapy.

To address this, we introduced ChemoScale, which works like a roadmap for chemotherapy. Using a blood sample, we isolate and culture circulating tumor cells, which are then exposed to 30 different chemotherapy agents. This allows us to create a profile that shows which treatments are most effective in killing cancer cells. Using this data, physicians can make more informed decisions, avoiding the trial-and-error approach that typically accompanies chemotherapy. ChemoScale helps optimize treatment times and improves patients' quality of life by reducing unnecessary side effects. It also offers a cost-effective solution by minimizing the need for ineffective treatments. Ultimately, it increases the probability of patient survival.

Q: How are you increasing adoption of ChemoScale in the healthcare sector?

A: Any new technology undergoes an adoption curve. This year we have worked with insurers to explain the benefits and costs of ChemoScale. We developed case studies for Mexico’s leading insurers to show them that this is not just a commercial matter, but one that has a significant impact. Some companies could save an estimated MX$1 billion (US$49.4 million) annually using our portfolio.

The technology has room for greater adoption. We are addressing some key bottlenecks, including access and financial coverage, so more people can benefit from it. We are also working on criteria to ensure that individuals have access to these tools, even if they initially selected an insurance provider that did not cover it.

Q: How can the use of personalized medicine be expanded in Mexico?

A: Cancer rates continue to rise due to lifestyle changes, with diagnoses occurring at younger ages. While regions like the United States and the European Union have higher incidence rates, their survival rates are higher, largely due to early screening and financial coverage. In contrast, the high cost of treating cancer in Mexico, reaching MX$2.67 million per year in the private sector, makes it financially catastrophic for many. This highlights the need for stronger health insurance coverage and social security.

To improve personalized medicine, we need financial certainty, so people are not deterred by treatment costs. Cancer care also requires a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates genomics, molecular biology, and clinical expertise. Broader access to large-scale genetic sequencing remains a challenge, particularly in private healthcare in Latin America.

Q: How should molecular testing and personalized medicine be approached to ensure the best possible clinical results?

A: Cancer is fundamentally a genomic disease, and we now have the tools to address it from this angle. It is an exceptionally complex condition, so it is essential to apply molecular studies in a prudent and logical manner. Molecular studies must be conducted with caution, as the indiscriminate use of molecular testing can lead to findings that do not provide actionable insights due to improper patient or test selection.

Our goal is not simply to sequence for the sake of sequencing, but to foster a mutually beneficial relationship for all stakeholders involved. The priority is to use these tools responsibly, ensuring they fulfill their promise and deliver tangible benefits to patients through personalized medicine.

Q: How is Theranomics addressing the challenges of early cancer detection and recurrence management in Mexico?

A: We address early cancer detection through our risk calculator: OncoCheck, which identifies individuals at increased risk, the factors contributing to that risk, and common associations. This is followed by a consultation with a cancer specialist, an important step in Mexico, where cancer patients may go from specialist to the next for six to eight months until they’re referred to an oncologist. Our goal is to reduce this delay through screening and early detection using blood tests, such as TruCheck.

A crucial aspect of managing cancer is addressing recurrences, which can be more aggressive. Recurring cancer often has fewer treatment options, leading to lower survival rates. We focus on detecting minimal residual disease by identifying cancer cells in the blood of patients in remission. This early detection helps identify recurrences before they become severe, avoiding the devastating outcomes of late diagnoses.

We are committed to supporting patients at every stage, from early screening to post-remission monitoring. We are working tirelessly to bring these advances to Mexico.

Theranomics focuses on precision oncology and personalized medicine. It is committed to developing new business models to benefit patients and providing access to the latest innovations in genomic medicine.