Clinical validation study of Biohit’s GastroPanel^® quick test completed in India

Biohit Oyj Press release 12 May 2025 at 14.00 am local time (EEST)

Biohit’s latest innovation, the GastroPanel^® quick test, represents the most advanced technology in the non-invasive serological diagnostics and screening of patients at high risk of gastric cancer. The GastroPanel^® quick test is intended for real-time diagnostics performed in a single patient visit and provides the same information as the GastroPanel^® ELISA test performed in a central laboratory. A clinical validation study of the GastroPanel^® quick test was recently completed at Fortis Hospital in India, one of the countries associated with a high risk of gastric cancer. A total of 266 volunteers took part in the study.

Other significant risk factors for gastric cancer include an infection caused by Helicobacter pylori and atrophy of the stomach lining, i.e. atrophic gastritis. According to the study results, the GastroPanel^® quick test identified moderate to severe gastric mucosal atrophy with almost 100 per cent diagnostic accuracy and Helicobacter pylori infection with approximately 84 per cent diagnostic accuracy.

Determining the health of the stomach and the cause of upper abdominal symptoms is important because the risk of gastric cancer increases by up to 90-fold due to atrophy of the stomach lining. Furthermore, it has been estimated that of all people infected with Helicobacter pylori, which accounts for approximately 40–50 per cent of the global population, 5–10 percent will eventually develop moderate or severe gastric mucosal atrophy if Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is not administered.

The GastroPanel^® test, developed by Biohit in the early 2000s, provides an accurate picture of the condition of the stomach mucosa and gastric acid secretion from a blood sample. This allows scarce endoscopy resources to be allocated to those patients who need it most. The further developed GastroPanel^® quick test is performed by using a blood sample taken from the fingertip, and the results become available in as little as 15 minutes.

“The validation study completed in India confirms that the diagnostic accuracy of the new GastroPanel^® quick test is comparable to the GastroPanel ELISA test version. The results are also very consistent with the results of biopsies taken during an endoscopy”, says Panu Hendolin, CTO of Biohit.

“This is the first clinical validation study of the GastroPanel^® quick test with patients at high risk of gastric cancer in India, and it proves that the quick test provides an excellent tool for a real-time diagnosis of the risk conditions for gastric cancer in a single clinic visit. The quick test results in cost savings because the patient can already be accurately diagnosed in primary care. The burden on specialised care is reduced, which enables faster access to endoscopy for those patients for whom a more thorough examination is necessary. A more rational allocation of the limited endoscopy resources can improve both cost-efficiency and the effectiveness of treatment”, Biohit CEO Jussi Hahtela says.

More on the study: The new GastroPanel® Quick Test of Biohit Oyj clinically validated in a high-risk population in India - Biohit

For further information, please contact:
Panu Hendolin, Biohit Oyj
tel. +358 9 773 861
investor.relations@biohit.fi
www.biohit.fi

Biohit in brief

Biohit Oyj is a Finnish biotechnology company that operates internationally. Biohit’s mission is Innovating for Health – we produce innovative products and services to promote research and early diagnosis. Biohit is headquartered in Helsinki and has subsidiaries in Italy and the United Kingdom. Biohit’s series B share (BIOBV) is listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki in the Small Cap/Healthcare group. www.biohithealthcare.com