Bogdan Mateescu

Bogdan Mateescu and his team at NeXendia are pioneering a next-generation liquid biopsy approach using cell-free RNA (cfRNA) to transform drug development and patient monitoring in oncology. Unlike traditional biomarkers, such as cell-free DNA or proteins, which provide static snapshots of disease states, cfRNA enables real-time insights into tumor response, immune activation, and treatment toxicity. 

NeXendia’s technology addresses a critical gap in oncology clinical trials and drug development: the need for dynamic, functional biomarkers to guide adaptive treatment decisions and enhance patient stratification. A primary application is in Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC) for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor response rates. Existing biomarkers fail to predict ADC efficacy, leading to unnecessary exposure to toxic therapies. By leveraging cfRNA signatures, NeXendia’s companion diagnostic platform will enable pharmaceutical and hospital partners to improve patient selection, accelerate clinical trials, and reduce treatment failure rates. 

Market & Field Evolution: 

The liquid biopsy market is expected to exceed $10 billion by 2030, driven by the demand for non-invasive genomic profiling in oncology. While cfDNA-based liquid biopsy tests (e.g., Guardant Health, Foundation Medicine) are widely used for detecting tumor mutations, cfRNA remains an emerging frontier in biomarker discovery. 

cfRNA assays are already being explored for pregnancy-related conditions (e.g., Mirvie’s preeclampsia test, which is not yet commercially available) and early cancer detection. However, their full potential for therapy selection and real-time monitoring remains untapped. NeXendia aims to bridge this gap, providing a validated cfRNA platform that enables timely, personalized treatment adjustments for immunotherapy and targeted therapies like ADCs. 

Goals During the Fellowship: 

• Prepare NeXendia’s technology for scaling up, from multiplexing to automation. 

• Establish strategic industry collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech partners in RNA therapeutics and oncology. 

• Strengthen commercialization roadmap through IP protection, funding acquisition, and industry engagement. 

With the support of the UZH Entrepreneur Fellowship, NeXendia is set to revolutionize oncology drug development by integrating cfRNA into the standard of care for precision medicine, ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time while de-risking drug development for pharma partners. 

Affiliation: Prof. Dr. Isabelle Mansuy
Start date: 01/2024