EIT Health-supported start-up MiMARK revolutionises cancer care with a new model to deliver healthcare

• To mark World Cancer Day, EIT Health reiterates the importance of investing in new models to deliver healthcare to cancer patients
• EIT Health supported start-up MiMARK is leading the charge in revolutionising cancer care by improving the accuracy and invasiveness of endometrial cancer diagnosis
• Pledging €6M to develop new healthcare delivery models across therapeutic areas, EIT Health calls upon innovators to facilitate the shift to a model of preventative healthcare to boost patient outcomes

EIT Health, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, marks World Cancer Day by highlighting the importance of developing new models to deliver healthcare to cancer patients. EIT Health has dedicated €6M in funding to encourage new, imaginative healthcare delivery models.

Gynaecological cancer diagnostics start-up, MiMARK, is just one of the many examples of EIT Health-backed solutions that shift the dial from a traditional, treatment-based healthcare model to a preventative model.

EIT Health began its support for MiMARK during the 2020 WildCard Programme. In June 2022, MiMARK reached the semi-finals of the EIT Health Catapult 2022-23, a competition showcasing Europe’s most promising biotech, medtech and digital health start-ups to leading experts and investors.

“EIT Health’s support for start-ups offering progressive models of healthcare delivery such as ours is critical in reimagining our healthcare system and building a model rooted in efficient and accurate diagnosis. We are fortunate to have had EIT Health’s expertise across technology, business development and management as it has allowed us to grow and accelerate. EIT Health’s continued partnership and support is critical to our success and our ability to impact patient lives positively.” said Eva Colás Ortega, co-founder of MiMARK.

MiMARK is revolutionising gynaecological cancer care by improving the accuracy, efficiency and comfort of endometrial cancer diagnosis. By removing the need for invasive biopsies (hysteroscopies), MiMARK is reimagining gynaecological diagnostics – and women’s healthcare - as we know it.  

The start-up’s first in vitro diagnostic test – WomEC – uses a panel of protein biomarkers present in uterine fluids to detect endometrial cancer, thereby avoiding invasive hysteroscopies.

“Our solution has the potential to transform how we deliver care for endometrial cancer. Not only does our innovation offer a means of detecting endometrial cancer accurately in its early stages, but it does so in a way that elevates women’s experience of care – by offering an effective, objective, non-invasive alternative to hysteroscopies,” said Marina Rigau, CEO and co-founder of MiMARK.

The fourth most prevalent cancer and the sixth most fatal, endometrial cancer can be painful and isolating for women worldwide. Too often, women seeking treatment for abnormal vaginal bleeding and endometrial diagnosis are subject to examination processes of an endometrial biopsy. This procedure fails to diagnose 31% of patients and renders faulty diagnoses 55% of the time. 

Looking forward, EIT Health will be supporting future innovators and entrepreneurs with a renewed commitment to cultivating solutions that will positively transform the delivery of healthcare across therapeutic areas and improve the lives of patients.

“EIT Health is proud to play a role in fostering life-changing innovations that will reshape the way that healthcare is delivered. There is a real impetus to invest in promising solutions that will enhance patient outcomes and build the foundations of a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system for all – not just in cancer care, but across all therapeutic areas.”, said Jean-Marc Bourez, CEO of EIT Health.