A novel approach to early cancer detection, which combines the extraordinary sense of smell of trained canines with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), is being launched in the U.S. through a new partnership between startup SpotitEarly and Hackensack Meridian Health.
SpotitEarly, which developed a breath-based, at-home test to identify cancer odor signatures (volatile organic compounds or VOCs), on Tuesday announced a collaboration with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine. The partnership marks a foundational step for the company in the U.S. market and aims to validate its innovative technology, which has already shown a promising 94 percent accuracy rate in initial clinical trials.
Launching with a major breast cancer trial
The research collaboration will kick off with the PINK Study, a multicenter, double-blind observational study focused on breast cancer detection. The trial plans to enroll 2,000 participants, including up to 500 women currently undergoing mammograms or biopsies at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The study is designed to rigorously test the technology, which uses trained dogs to sniff out cancer odor signatures in breath samples. SpotitEarly’s proprietary AI platform, LUCID, then analyzes the findings to detect early signs of the disease. The double-blind nature of the study, led by Dr. Elias Obeid, ensures that neither participants nor researchers know the results, maintaining the trial’s scientific integrity.
“Less than 15 percent of all cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed through a recommended screening protocol,” Shlomi Madar, CEO of SpotitEarly said. “Our goal is to help close this gap by exploring and developing innovative screening solutions.”
A “groundbreaking approach” to screening
The potential of using canines—whose sense of smell is estimated to be up to 100,000 times greater than a human’s—to detect disease has long been a subject of research. This partnership seeks to transform that biological capability into an accessible, at-home screening option.
The collaboration aligns with the mission of Hackensack Meridian Health, which emphasizes proactive cancer prevention.
“Almost two-thirds of cancer diagnoses have no screening test,” Dr. Andre Goy, physician-in-chief and vice president of Oncology at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center said. “Partnering with SpotitEarly on this innovative breath test technology offers a potentially groundbreaking approach to screening and aligns perfectly with our mission to transform cancer care through proactive prevention.”
Following the initial breast cancer focus, the partners plan to broaden their research to include other cancer types, such as lung and prostate cancer. The ultimate goal shared by both organizations is to shift the healthcare system from a reactive model to a proactive one, significantly increasing early cancer diagnoses and improving survival rates.
