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3-2-1 Bladder Cancer
Priyanka Vaidya
June 30, 2025
Bladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the bladder, the organ that stores urine. It often presents with symptoms such as blood in the urine (hematuria), frequent urination, or pelvic pain. Diagnosis typically involves procedures like cystoscopy, urine cytology, and imaging tests. Bladder cancer is classified by grade (how abnormal the cancer cells look) and stage (how deeply the tumor has invaded the bladder wall and whether it has spread). Treatment options depend on the type, grade, and stage of the cancer and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Early detection and tailored treatment are important for the best outcomes.
Bladder cancer is a common urological cancer that has the highest recurrence rate of any cancer malignancy. Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the world and also ranked 6th for men. There are about 2.7 million bladder cancer patients globally, with about 549,000 new cases and 200,000 deaths per year.
3 startups making an impact in this space:
Company | |||
Location | US | Singapore | Netherlands |
Modality | Detetction | Detetction | Diagnosis + Treatment |
Descriptor | Vesica has translated proven multi-omic technology into a clinically actionable test that improves the evaluation of hematuria and the early detection of bladder cancer. | BioCheetah is primarily set up to develop and commercialize non-invasive, protein-based diagnostic applications. | Scinvivo aims to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and care by providing medical professionals with the next-generation, minimally invasive imaging platform. |
Core Problem | In the US, bladder cancer is the 6th most frequent cancer. Most patients are 55 years and older, and it is 4 times more common in males than females. | Invasive cystoscopic examinations and voided urine cytology have been the gold standard modality for over 80 years. However, the cystoscopic approach is very burdensome and invasive for patients and costly for healthcare providers. | Current imaging technologies are unable to show the anatomical structure of the tissue during endoscopic procedures. |
Solution | Vesica’s AssureMDx is a simple, noninvasive urine test that can help doctors determine a patient's risk for harboring bladder cancer. | BioCheetah’s multiplex biomarker panel offers unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity for the diagnosis of bladder cancer patients simply from a few drops of urine. | Scinvivo’s forward-looking OCT-catheter provides the answer by giving urologists real-time ultra-high resolution (a few micrometers) insight into the anatomical structure during diagnosis (cystoscopy). |
Product Suite | AssureMDx is a noninvasive, urine-based test that evaluates genomic changes associated with the presence of bladder cancer and can help identify high-risk patients who will benefit from clinical evaluation by a urologist. | Elisa IVD Test Kit For the detection of bladder cancer non-invasively in hematuria and recurrent bladder cancer patients. Point-of-care testing kit is under development, which will be available to GPs and polyclinics for rapid analysis of bladder cancer biomarkers. | The product offering consists of a single-use catheter and a base station. |
Regulatory Status | FDA Submitted | ISO certified | FDA breakthrough device |
Funding Stage | Unknown | Unknown | Backed by the Netherlands’ health impact fund |
Team | Leaders in molecular diagnostics and oncology. | Experienced life science and healthcare operators. | Experienced life science and healthcare operators. |
Traction | Gaining traction | Solid traction in Asia | Solid traction |
2 actionable insights to inspire your strategy.
Liquid Biopsies There is rapid adoption of urine-based and blood-based biomarker tests (liquid biopsies) for early, non-invasive detection and ongoing monitoring of bladder cancer. These tests are gaining popularity due to their ease of use, sensitivity, and ability to simplify diagnostic procedures, making them preferred by both clinicians and patients. | AI/ML AI is transforming bladder cancer care by improving diagnostic precision, personalizing treatment plans, and predicting patient outcomes. AI algorithms are used for tumor detection and staging, digital pathology, and real-time assistance during cystoscopies, as well as for forecasting recurrence and treatment efficacy. The integration of genomics, molecular profiling, and AI-driven analytics is enabling more precise, individualized treatment decisions, aligning therapy with each patient’s unique tumor characteristics. |
1 key resource to deepen your understanding.
Take a listen to this episode from the Podcast ‘Bladder Cancer: Patient-to-Patient’ where we find out how the podcast host, who has lived an organic and natural lifestyle for years, still ended up with cancer.
And that’s all for today. See you next Monday! Would love to hear your feedback. If you like the newsletter, please share it with your friends and colleagues!