The Endotest® is the first saliva test to diagnose endometriosis. It was developed by the French start-up Ziwig and the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians. How does it work ? How does it detect disease? How to do it ? When will it be available in France?
The French artificial intelligence start-up Ziwig and the experts of National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) announced the development of the Endotest®the first saliva test to diagnose endometriosis, February 11. “A French team bringing together doctors who are experts in endometriosis and engineers in artificial intelligence has just developed a diagnostic test based on the sequencing of microRNAs present in saliva“ says Ziwig in a communicated. “He allows the early detection of all forms of endometriosis, even the most complex, with near 100% reliability“. This disease which affects 10% of women in France is difficult to detect today (by MRI, laparoscopy or ultrasound), the delay for making a diagnosis is still 6 to 8 years according to the CNGOF. “Endometriosis evolves. It is not moving in the right direction. She is getting worse. Thanks to this saliva test we will be able to stop the progression of the disease, operate on women earlier, for example, and not operate on others who have been operated on until now to find out if there was endometriosis. . There we will have the answer. It really is a major step forward. !“rejoiced Philippe Descamps, the director of the endometriosis reference center of the CHU d’Angers on February 11 on France Inter.
What is the Endotest?
The Endotest® is a saliva test used to diagnose endometriosis. It was developed by the French artificial intelligence start-up Ziwig and experts from the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians. “This test is based on microRNA sequencing present in salivaZiwig says. The patient spits into a sound tube. residence and sends it to a laboratory which detects the presence or absence of the disease. The availability of this test is currently the subject of consultation with the French health authorities and is awaiting the agreement of the High Authority for Health (HAS), with a view to its registration in the course of care and its possible reimbursement by Health Insurance.
The saliva screening test for endometriosis is based on the detection of micro RNA, biomarkers (signatures of a disease) found in saliva. The microRNAs are involved in pathophysiological mechanisms (the study of disorders of the functioning of the body) endometriosis. “A direct link between the deregulation of certain microRNAs and the development of endometriotic lesions has been revealed” Ziwig reveals in his press release. In January 2021, a French research team, bringing together doctors who are experts in endometriosis and artificial intelligence engineers from the start-up Ziwig, launched the Endo-miRNA clinical trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The study focused on 200 saliva and blood samples from 200 women with chronic pelvic pain suggestive of endometriosis collected between January and June 2021. The diagnosis of endometriosis was established on inclusion, either by performing a laparoscopy with biopsies, or by means of an MRI showing images characteristic of endometriosis. The scientists then analyzed the saliva of 153 women who had been diagnosed with endometriosis and compared it to that of 47 women who did not suffer from the disease. Among the 2,600 known human microRNAs, 109 were implicated in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. This discovery made it possible to define a “signature“of illness. “Saliva offers a high miRNA concentration and excellent stability conditions, including in the event of long storage.“according to the Ziwig company.”The reliability of this test is exceptional with a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 100% and diagnostic performance greater than 98%“says the CNGOF.
The patient spit in a tube (self-sampling kit) at home and sends it in the laboratory, which carries out DNA sequencing and detects, or not, the presence of the disease in a few days. It is not yet known whether the Endotest® will be on sale in pharmacies, with or without a prescription.
What is the price of the Endotest?
The price of the Endotest® is not yet known.
Sources:
“The Endotest”, National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), February 11, 2022,
“Saliva Testing for the Diagnosis of Endometriosis: A Major Advance for Women’s Health“, Ziwig, February 11, 2022.
“Ssalivary microRNA signature for the diagnosis of endometriosis“, Journal of Clinical Medicine, January 26, 2022,