Hangzhou WISE Biotech Advances Precision Oncology with Integrated CTC Detection Platform Ahead of IPO
Humanity’s fight against cancer has never ceased. Since the 19th century, cancer treatment has broadly progressed through three major stages, including surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Although each innovation has brought improved therapeutic outcomes for patients, these modalities have all focused on treating cancer during its “clinical disease phase.”
With technological advancements and the advent of precision medicine, liquid biopsy technology is driving a fourth-stage revolution in cancer treatment, shifting the focus from the “pathogenic phase” to the “latent phase” of tumors to enable early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Liquid biopsy, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), tumor-associated exosomes, and circulating tumor microRNA (ctmiRNA), offers significant application value in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis due to its advantages of convenience, non-invasiveness, and real-time monitoring.
Hangzhou Watson Biotech, established in 2009, is a company dedicated to the research, translation, and clinical application of innovative technologies—such as liquid biopsy, genetic testing, companion diagnostics, and personalized medication evaluation—as well as the development of diagnostic instruments and reagents. Currently, the company has built a mature integrated product line and clinical application system for circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection and analysis, positioning itself as one of the most focused and comprehensive developers and applicators of CTC detection products in China.
When discussing CTC detection, it is essential to first address tumors. Tumors are highly heterogeneous diseases; most progress rapidly and are prone to recurrence and metastasis. Once metastasis occurs, patients’ survival time is significantly shortened, and their quality of life is markedly reduced. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic drugs or treatment modalities capable of achieving a cure.
China is a country with a high incidence of cancer, and the number of cancer patients is enormous. According to data released by the National Cancer Center, there were approximately 3.929 million new cases of malignant tumors and about 2.338 million deaths in 2015. On average, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every day, which means 7.5 people are diagnosed with cancer every minute.
Behind the vast number of cancer cases, there is an urgent need for new, more precise, and more effective diagnostic technologies and products.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that detach from primary or metastatic lesions and enter the circulatory system, existing at all stages of tumor initiation and progression. As intact tumor cells with complete genetic information, CTCs enable multi-omics analyses at the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic levels, offering richer research insights than circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Clinical studies have confirmed that tumors measuring 1–2 mm in diameter (with cell counts reaching 109), imaging modalities such as PET-CT are also unable to detect it, but CTCs can be detected in the blood at this stage.
CTC is broadly applicable to the clinical auxiliary diagnosis of various common and high-incidence solid tumors and their subtypes, including lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, and glioma.
Numerous completed and ongoing studies have demonstrated that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can assist physicians in achieving comprehensive management throughout the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Applications include early cancer screening and warning, differentiation between benign and malignant lesions at early stages, tumor staging, prognostic assessment, monitoring of therapeutic efficacy, surveillance for recurrence and metastasis, companion diagnostics, and personalized medication.
“CTC detection can be described as one of the liquid biopsy technologies with the greatest clinical application value and development prospects,” stated Dr. Zhang Kaishan, founder of HangZhou Watson Biotech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Watson Biotech”).
Currently, the clinical application of CTC testing has gained high recognition from many clinical experts in China and has been incorporated into clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines. According to incomplete statistics, thousands of medical institutions in China, including comprehensive hospitals, specialized oncology hospitals, and independent medical laboratories—many of which are well-known Grade A tertiary hospitals—have adopted and implemented CTC testing programs. Moreover, an increasing number of clinical hospitals are issuing tenders to select appropriate CTC enrichment detection products and technologies for launching clinical CTC testing services.
Dr. Zhang Kaishan in the laboratory
“The clinical value of CTC testing is gradually being recognized, with substantial clinical demand,” pointed out Dr. Zhang Kaishan.
“Since 1996, I have been dedicated to researching newer products and technologies in the field of oncology,” introduced Dr. Zhang Kaishan.
Dr. Zhang Kaishan, who holds a Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and an MBA from the University of International Business and Economics, is a Senior Engineer. Prior to founding HangZhou Watson Biotech Co.,Ltd, Dr. Zhang had accumulated over 20 years of industry experience in the research of novel oncology drugs and the translational application of new technologies and products in in vitro diagnostics (IVD).
Drawing from his years of overseas study and academic exchange, as well as extensive R&D and operational experience in the IVD industry, Dr. Zhang Kaishan has gained a profound understanding that early and precise diagnosis of tumors is of decisive significance to new drug development and oncology care. He believes that with continuous innovation in biomedical technologies, strong policy support from the government, and robust demand in the clinical market, the IVD sector is ushering in greater opportunities for development and expansion.
“The clinical and research value of CTC detection is immense. Due to the high technical barriers, there are few mature CTC clinical testing products available. The domestic market is still in its nascent stage, far from meeting the demands of clinical application, which indicates a substantial market potential,” pointed out Dr. Zhang Kaishan.
Recognizing the vast market potential of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), Dr. Zhang Kaishan co-founded HangZhou Watson Biotech Co.,Ltd in 2009 with two renowned American Ph.D.s in biology, dedicating the company to transforming independently developed or globally leading clinical diagnostic technologies into products for clinical application.
After 11 years of relentless research and development, HangZhou Watson Biotech Co.,Ltd has established an integrated solution encompassing CTC detection and analysis instruments, reagents, and technical services.The Watson Biotech® CTC Integrated Detection and Analysis System comprises instruments and equipment including the CytoSorter® CTC Automated Chip Processing System, CytoSorter® CTC Analyzer, CTC Fully Automated Fluorescence Scanner, and Single-Cell Micromanipulation System.
Watson® Fully Automated Fluorescence Scanner
A multi-tiered CTC reagent product line, comprising the CytoSorter® Epithelial CTC Detection Kit, CytoSorter® Mesenchymal CTC Detection Kit, CytoSorter® Epithelial-Mesenchymal Subtyping CTC Detection Kit, as well as clinical diagnostic and research products such as the Watson Biotech® CTC PD-L1 and Watson Biotech® CTC Her-2 Detection Kits, which are used for tumor tissue-specific enrichment and specific detection of CTCs, companion diagnostics, and targeted therapy.
CompanyCore Products——Based on technology from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolThe CytoSorter® CTC Detection System employs next-generation CTC enrichment and analysis technology based on nano-microfluidic chips, immunocapture, and fluorescent staining.
CytoSorter® CTC Enrichment Analyzer
Dr. Zhang Kaishan pointed out that CTC enrichment and detection technologies are emerging in abundance, including membrane filtration, immunomagnetic beads, and microfluidic nanochip technologies. Each CTC enrichment and detection technology has its own unique advantages and characteristics. Regardless of the technological product, the most critical factor is whether it can truly meet clinical needs and address clinical pain points.
Watson Biotech’s CTC product utilizes microfluidic nanochip-based positive enrichment technology to more efficiently enrich circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating tumor microemboli (CTMs), and even circulating tumor stem cells.The independently developed CytoSorter® Epithelial-Mesenchymal Subtyping CTC Detection Kit is the world’s first dual-antibody positive enrichment-based product for CTC subtyping detection,By employing “dual-antibody capture” combined with “multi-antibody detection,” this approach enables the capture and detection of epithelial, mesenchymal, and epithelial-mesenchymal hybrid circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood, thereby providing more accurate predictions of tumor recurrence, metastasis, and disease progression.
Watson® CTC Detection and Analysis Kit
“Our CTC enrichment detection products do not merely pursue technological advancement; most importantly, they must ensure accuracy and effectiveness in clinical applications. Meanwhile, we also need to provide clinical and research products that are multidimensional, multi-level, and diverse,” introduced Dr. Zhang Kaishan.
In recent years, HangZhou Watson Biotech Co.,Ltd has collaborated with several renowned Grade A tertiary hospitals, including Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and Peking University Cancer Hospital, to actively conduct multicenter studies. These efforts have promoted the clinical validation and application of CytoSorter® and the Watson® product series. Multiple scientific articles have been published in prestigious international journals such as Cancer Letters.
In addition to product and technological innovation, HangZhou Watson Biotech Co.,Ltd leverages its advantageous products and core technologies, such as liquid biopsy CTCs, to activelyEstablish third-party medical laboratory centers to provide specialized platforms for tumor liquid biopsy, serving a broader base of clinical and research clients.
Behind the success of every product lies robust technical support. Watson Biotech’s technical team comprises dozens of high-tech professionals from the United States, Taiwan (China), and mainland China, possessing cutting-edge domestic and international technologies as well as extensive industry experience.
Currently, multiple products under HangZhou Watson Biotech Co., Ltd., including CTC instruments and detection kits, are actively undergoing registration approval. Regarding the next phase of plans, Dr. Zhang Kaishan told VCBeat,A new round of financing will be launched this year, primarily to advance the R&D, clinical trials, and regulatory approval for market launch of multiple new products developed over the past two years, as well as to accelerate the construction of third-party regional medical laboratory centers.
“Watson Biotech is dedicated to precision diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Our greatest aspiration is to leverage our innovative products and precise services to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment, thereby assisting physicians in selecting the most suitable therapeutic regimens for patients. This approach aims to improve patients’ quality of life, extend their survival time, and alleviate their financial and psychological burdens. Staying true to our original mission, driving technological innovation, enabling precise diagnosis, and pursuing excellence in circulating tumor cell (CTC) technology constitute Watson Biotech’s core focus,” stated Dr. Zhang Kaishan.