BCAL to Launch Avantect Tests with 78%+ Sensitivity for Ovarian Cancer Detection

A Strategic Partnership to Advance Early Cancer Detection

BCAL Diagnostics Limited (ASX – BDX) has announced a significant partnership with ClearNote Health Inc., a US precision diagnostics company, to bring cutting-edge blood tests for early detection of pancreatic and ovarian cancers to Australia and New Zealand. This exclusive licence agreement marks a pivotal expansion of BCAL’s oncology portfolio beyond breast cancer, aiming to tackle two of the deadliest cancers with notoriously low early detection rates.

ClearNote Health’s Avantect® tests utilize a proprietary epigenomics platform developed at Stanford University, combining artificial intelligence and bioinformatics to detect subtle biological differences in blood samples. These non-invasive tests have demonstrated impressive clinical performance, with the pancreatic cancer test showing approximately 68% sensitivity and 97% specificity, and the ovarian cancer test exceeding 78% sensitivity and 94% specificity in peer-reviewed studies.

Leveraging Established Networks for Rapid Market Entry

BCAL plans to integrate these tests into its existing distribution channels, including partnerships with leading pathology and diagnostic providers such as Cancer Care and Associates and the Sydney Breast Clinic. This approach is designed to facilitate swift adoption among clinicians who already serve patients at risk for breast cancer, creating a natural synergy given the overlapping patient populations for these cancers.

The agreement, commencing in the first quarter of 2026, spans an initial two-year term with an option to extend for an additional six years. This timeline allows BCAL to establish a strong foothold in the early cancer detection market while evaluating commercial uptake and clinical impact.

Implications for Patients and the Healthcare System

Pancreatic and ovarian cancers collectively claim around 5,000 Australian lives annually, with survival rates dramatically improving when detected early. For example, pancreatic cancer’s five-year survival rate jumps from a dismal 4% at late stages to approximately 80% if caught at Stage 1A. BCAL’s Executive Chair Jayne Shaw highlighted the transformative potential of these tests to save lives through earlier diagnosis, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible, accurate, and non-invasive screening tools.

ClearNote Health CEO Dave Mullarkey echoed this optimism, underscoring the shared vision to revolutionize cancer detection and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by enabling earlier, more effective interventions.

Looking Ahead – A New Chapter in Oncology Diagnostics

This partnership not only strengthens BCAL’s position as a leader in multi-cancer detection but also signals a broader shift towards precision diagnostics driven by advanced molecular technologies. As BCAL rolls out these tests, the company will be closely watched by investors and clinicians alike for evidence of market traction, reimbursement progress, and real-world patient outcomes.