Helio Health and commercial partner Fulgent Genetics this week announced the launch of the HelioLiver liver cancer blood test.
HelioLiver is a multi-analyte blood test that uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation patterns and serum protein markers to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the most common form of liver cancer. The test is able to detect HCC at its earliest stages when lesions are still small to enable more curative treatment options.
Recent studies of the test showed that HelioLiver had “superior sensitivity” over currently available blood tests, according to a news release. It had a specificity of 91% and demonstrated 76% sensitivity in detecting early-stage HCC, outperforming other detection tools like AFP (57%), GALAD (65%) and ultrasound (47%).
“We are excited to offer patients at high risk of developing liver cancer a convenient and sensitive serial testing option to catch cancer early when it counts the most,” Helio Health U.S. CEO Justin Chen Li said in a news release. “We are proud to partner with Fulgent to launch this innovative, simple, and reliable test that has the potential to redefine the future of cancer testing and foster better patient outcomes.”
HelioLiver also simplified routine checkups by providing blood draws that can give a quick and accurate way to receive regular surveillance for people who are at risk of developing liver cancer.
Through our partnership with Helio, our joint priority is to bring HelioLiver to providers and patients in a seamless manner,” Fulgent Genetics chief commercial officer Brandon Perthuis said. “Leveraging our extensive commercial infrastructure, we are well-positioned to deliver an easy ordering experience for providers with our representatives at the ready to provide the best-in-class white-glove service throughout the entire experience.”