Mirxes and NCCS launch blood test to spot liver cirrhosis risk earlier

Mirxes and the National Cancer Centre Singapore have launched CIRRHOClear™, a blood-based microRNA test now commercially available in Singapore to identify liver cirrhosis risk before symptoms appear. The test is designed to help primary care physicians catch disease earlier in high-risk adults and guide follow-up before irreversible liver damage develops.

Why it matters: - Liver cirrhosis often develops without symptoms, so patients can miss the window for early treatment. - CIRRHOClear™ is designed to help physicians identify risk earlier in adults who may otherwise test normal on routine blood work. - Earlier detection could reduce progression to liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common liver cancer. - The launch comes as liver cancer remains a major cause of cancer death in Singapore.

What happened: - Mirxes Holdings and the National Cancer Centre Singapore announced the official launch of CIRRHOClear™, a non-invasive blood-based microRNA test for liver cirrhosis risk stratification. - The test is now commercially available and ready for clinical integration. - M Diagnostics, Mirxes’ CAP-accredited clinical laboratory, is offering CIRRHOClear™ initially as a Laboratory-Developed Test. - The launch builds on the ELEGANCE cohort study of 2,000 participants with liver disease, led by NCCS.

The details: - CIRRHOClear™ analyzes specific microRNA biomarkers in a standard blood sample. - A proprietary algorithm classifies results as High Risk, Intermediate Risk, or Low Risk for the likelihood of liver cirrhosis being present at the time of testing. - Clinical validation studies showed 89% sensitivity and 95% specificity for detecting liver cirrhosis. - The test is designed for adults aged 40 and older. - Intended use includes higher-risk patients with fatty liver disease, chronic hepatitis, alcohol-related liver conditions, or suspected liver scarring. - Traditional screening tools, including routine liver enzyme tests and ultrasound, can miss early-stage scarring. - More advanced imaging methods such as transient elastography and magnetic resonance elastography are harder to access because they are concentrated in specialist centres. - Liver biopsy remains the gold standard, but it is invasive and carries risks such as pain and bleeding. - The test is meant to complement, not replace, standard-of-care screening tools. - If used in routine health check-ups, CIRRHOClear™ could help flag asymptomatic people with advanced fibrosis or early cirrhosis.

Between the lines: - The launch extends a public-private partnership between NCCS and Mirxes from research into clinical use. - Mirxes is positioning its RNA platform beyond cancer into liver disease detection. - The product is aimed at primary care, where earlier triage could ease bottlenecks created by limited specialist imaging access. - Professor Pierce Chow, principal investigator of the ELEGANCE study, said early detection is the best tool to change the disease trajectory of chronic liver conditions. - Dr. Zhou Lihan said the launch reflects the impact of the partnership and could move liver care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

What's next: - CIRRHOClear™ is expected to be used as an upstream screening tool in higher-risk populations. - Physicians can use the test to track changes in disease severity as microRNA profiles evolve. - The companies are betting the test will expand access to earlier liver risk detection in primary care settings. - Broader adoption will depend on how well the test fits into routine screening workflows and follow-up care pathways.

The bottom line: - Mirxes and NCCS are trying to shift liver cirrhosis detection earlier, before symptoms and before irreversible damage make treatment far harder.