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INOVIQ Ltd (ASX: IIQ)

INOVIQ LICENCES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO OVARIAN CANCER BIOMARKER IP FROM UNIQUEST

INOVIQ Ltd (ASX: IIQ)

Key Facts:

·         Exclusive worldwide licence secured from UniQuest for novel exosomal ovarian cancer biomarker IP

·         Supports development and commercialisation of INOVIQ’s EXO-OC test for early detection and screening ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women

·         Commercial discussions underway with leading clinical laboratories and diagnostic companies to accelerate US LDT launch

·         Clinical validation advancing, with EXO-OC expected to be LDT ready by Dec 2026


INOVIQ Limited (ASX: IIQ) (INOVIQ or the Company) is pleased to announce it has secured an exclusive worldwide licence from The University of Queensland’s (UQ’s) commercialisation company UniQuest, to develop and commercialise novel exosomal biomarkers for the early detection of ovarian cancer. INOVIQ has exercised its exclusive option under the Umbrella Research and Option Agreement with UniQuest (ASX: announced on 1 April 2022) and this licence builds on the Company’s successful research collaboration with UQ and internationally respected exosome expert, Professor Carlos Salomon Gallo.

The licensed IP enables INOVIQ’s EXO-OC™ ovarian cancer screening test, which integrates UQ’s biomarker discoveries with the Company’s proprietary EXO-NET® exosome isolation technology and algorithm. EXO-OC™ achieved 100% sensitivity for early-stage ovarian cancer (Stage I and II) detection and over 99.6% specificity, establishing its potential to be developed as an ovarian cancer screening test (ASX announced on 2 June 2025).

Key Licence Terms

  • Licensed Rights: Exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise the Licensed IP.
  • Licensed IP: Patent application covering novel protein and RNA biomarker combinations and methods for the exosome ovarian cancer test (APPA filed by UQ on 29 May 2025) and any Licensed IP Improvements.
  • Financial: INOVIQ will pay UniQuest A$25k upfront, up to AU$360k in contingent regulatory/ commercial milestones, and tiered royalties up to 2.5% on net sales received by INOVIQ (excluding EXO-NET® component).
  • Term: The longer of 10 years from first commercial sale or expiry of licensed patents. 

CEO Dr Leearne Hinch said:Securing global rights to these biomarkers is a pivotal milestone for INOVIQ. Incorporating UQ’s novel exosomal biomarker IP into our EXO-OC™ test enables development of potential best-in-class exosome-based test for the early-detection of ovarian cancer. Our strategy is to commercialise EXO-OC™ as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) in the US, then expand globally following In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) registrations. With unmatched performance to date, our EXO-OC test has the potential to change the paradigm in ovarian cancer detection and drive significant value creation for shareholders.

UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said: “There is a critical unmet need for the earlier detection of ovarian cancer. We are excited to partner with INOVIQ to advance this exosome-based ovarian cancer screening test towards commercialisation and clinically meaningful impact. Delivering an ovarian cancer screening test that has the potential to save women’s lives by enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention is a successful translational outcome from the long-standing collaboration between UQ, UniQuest and INOVIQ.”

Authorised for release by Company Secretary, Mark Edwards.


About us:

ABOUT INOVIQ LTD

INOVIQ Ltd (ASX: IIQ) is a leader in exosome technology advancing next-generation diagnostics and therapeutics that transform cancer care. Our product portfolio includes commercial-stage exosome isolation products, clinical-stage diagnostics for ovarian and breast cancers, and a cutting-edge preclinical CAR-exosome therapeutic program for solid tumours. INOVIQ is shaping the future of cancer detection and treatment to improve patient outcomes. For more information, visit www.inoviq.com.

About EXO-OC™ test

INOVIQ’s EXO-OC™ test is an exosome-based blood test in development for early detection and screening of ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women.  The test uses INOVIQ’s proprietary EXO-NET® technology to isolate exosomes and combines multiple exosomal miRNA biomarkers and CA125 in an AI-enhanced machine learning algorithm to enable the early and accurate detection of ovarian cancer.

In a 500-sample, retrospective, blinded, case-control study, EXO-OC™ demonstrated 77% sensitivity at 99.6% specificity for detecting ovarian cancer across all stages and 100% sensitivity for early-stage disease (Stage I and II) (ASX 2 June 2025). Our EXO-OC test addresses a critical unmet need for early detection of ovarian cancer; meeting performance criteria for population screening and establishing its potential for further development.

Clinical validation studies are underway to confirm the performance of the EXO-OC test in larger sample cohorts across different ovarian cancer subtypes, other diseases, race and high-risk groups. The test is run on a fully-automated, high-throughput instrument platform suitable for clinical pathology laboratories, with capacity to process over 500 samples daily.

INOVIQ is in discussions with strategic partners to accelerate commercialisation, with plans to commercialise EXO-OC™ as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) in the US before seeking In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) regulatory approvals in other international markets. The Company is committed to making EXO-OC™ widely accessible to improve outcomes for women through earlier detection of ovarian cancer.

About UniQuest and The University of Queensland (UQ)

UniQuest is the commercialisation company of The University of Queensland (UQ). In partnership with UQ researchers, we create impact through the commercialisation of UQ intellectual property. Established in 1984, UniQuest’s commercialisation track record positions UQ as the leader of research commercialisation in Australasia. Notable successes include the blockbuster cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil® and start-up companies Spinifex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Inflazome Ltd and Vicebio Ltd, which were acquired in three of the largest university start-up exits in Australian history.


Contact details:

Dr Leearne Hinch

Chief Executive Officer

E [email protected]

M +61 400 414 416