Graphene-based biosensor to support new lung cancer screening test
Ella Day | August 18, 2025 | News story | Business Services, Research and Development | Ease Healthcare, Hawkeye Bio, HydroGraph, Oncology, lung cancer
HydroGraph, a Canadian producer of ultra-pure graphene, has announced a partnership with Hawkeye Bio and Ease Healthcare to support the development of a new blood test for the early detection of lung cancer.
The test, known as the Lung Enzyme Activity Profile (LEAP), is a non-invasive and radiation-free diagnostic designed to identify early-stage lung cancer across all subtypes. It has shown a 99.8% negative predictive value in trials, indicating strong potential for ruling out disease in high-risk groups such as older smokers, firefighters, military personnel and first responders.
HydroGraph’s technology produces ultra-pure graphene, which forms the basis of Hawkeye Bio’s nanoscale biosensor. The sensor measures enzymatic activity linked to inflammatory disease, a key biomarker in the early stages of lung cancer.
“This partnership underscores the medical potential of high-purity graphene,” said Kjirstin Breure, president and CEO of HydroGraph. “Our ability to deliver graphene at scale supports groundbreaking diagnostics like Hawkeye’s biosensors and Ease’s LEAP test, ultimately saving lives through earlier detection and intervention.”
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality, with the American Cancer Society estimating 227,000 new cases and nearly 125,000 deaths in the United States in 2025. Despite this, screening uptake is low, with only 2-6% of at-risk individuals undergoing recommended annual low-dose CT scans.
The collaboration aims to improve compliance with screening guidelines and bring affordable, accessible testing to primary care settings, with future plans to expand the platform to other cancers and diseases.
Ella Day
18/8/25
Related Content
HUTCHMED completes enrolment in phase 3 trial for lung cancer
HUTCHMED has completed patient enrolment for the SANOVO phase 3 clinical trial, investigating the use …
FDA approves diagnostic tool for MET-targeted lung cancer therapy
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roche’s VENTANA MET (SP44) RxDx Assay …
Bristol Myers Squibb receives positive CHMP opinion for Opdivo treatment
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products …
