Syantra

Syantra Inc. is a precision biotechnology company that emerged from research conducted at the University of Calgary. Founded in 2016 by Kristina Rinker, Bob Shepherd, Dr. Ken Fuh, and Dr. Randy Moore, the company is focused on altering the landscape of cancer detection, beginning with breast cancer. The founding team combines deep expertise in biomedical engineering, cell bioengineering research, and vascular surgery. Dr. Rinker, the Chief Scientific Officer, is a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Calgary and has an extensive background in developing technologies for disease detection. Bob Shepherd, the Chief Operating Officer, brings over 25 years of experience in cell bioengineering and has co-founded several companies to commercialize new technologies.

The company's core offering is the Syantra DX™ Breast Cancer test, a blood-based screening tool designed for the early detection of invasive breast cancer. This laboratory-developed test operates by measuring a panel of 12 gene expression biomarkers from a whole blood sample. The data is then interpreted by proprietary software that utilizes machine learning algorithms to produce a positive or negative result, indicating the presence or absence of a breast cancer signature. This molecular approach is designed to identify the most common types of invasive breast cancer in their initial stages when treatment is often more effective. The test is positioned as a supplemental tool to current imaging methods, particularly for women under 50 or those with dense breast tissue, where mammography can be less accurate.

Syantra operates on a private-pay model, with the test available through healthcare providers in Canada. Patients obtain a physician's requisition, provide a blood sample, which is then sent to Syantra's accredited laboratory for analysis. The results are returned to the requesting physician. The company has pursued commercialization by securing regulatory approvals, including CE marking for the European Union and accreditations for laboratories in the United States and Canada, with plans for global commercialization. Syantra has raised capital through funding rounds to scale its laboratory facilities, advance clinical studies, and expand its market presence.

Keywords: liquid biopsy, breast cancer screening, gene expression biomarkers, molecular diagnostics, precision healthcare, early cancer detection, machine learning algorithm, laboratory developed test, qPCR, RNA biomarkers