NIB biotec in Vilnius: Prostate Cancer Prospects in Lithuania

On Wednesday, March 18, we will be pleased to be guests of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN), one of the most active and dynamic investor communities in Northern Europe. It will be an important moment to present our project dedicated to non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer and strengthen collaborations in a country where cancer prevention represents a national health emergency.

LitBAN: The Lithuanian Ecosystem Where Innovation and Capital Meet

The Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN) is a rapidly growing network of entrepreneurs, professionals, and experts committed to supporting high-potential startups.

With over 4,000 startup applications received and more than €50 million invested in seven years, LitBAN has become a hub for innovation in the Baltics, promoting networking, mentorship, and syndicated investment to support new tech entrepreneurship.

Our meeting with this community represents the perfect opportunity to present a project with high social and health impact, capable of integrating urinary biomarkers, rapid screening tools, and early diagnosis models.

Prostate cancer in Lithuania: why we need to act now

Lithuania has higher incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer than the European average:

• It is the most diagnosed cancer in men, with 3,208 new cases in 2022 alone according to GLOBOCAN data (source)
• The incidence is significantly higher than the EU average, with rates reaching 182.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. (source)
• Mortality remains high: 46.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the European average of 32.1. (source)

These numbers confirm how more efficient screening and rapid diagnostic tools are today essential for early intervention and reducing the clinical and socioeconomic impact of the disease.

Lithuania is also the European country that is investing the most in developing an organized pathway for prostate cancer.

Dr. Aušvydas Patašius, urologist and researcher at the Nacionalinis Vėžio Centras (NVC) of Vilnius is in fact involved in the project PRAISE-U, in addition to conducting research in tumor epidemiology, PSA screening programs, and diagnostic pathways for urological oncology diseases.

PRAISE-U: A European initiative that changes the future of screening

Il programma europeo PRAISE-U (PRostate cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the EU) is redesigning the way Member States approach early diagnosis of prostate cancerCoordinated by the European Association of Urology, the project aims to:

• develop personalized, risk-based screening protocols;
• harmonize guidelines in European countries;
• conduct pilot studies in several countries, including Lithuania, Poland, Ireland and Spain;
• reduce late diagnoses and unnecessary interventions through a more targeted approach.

Dr. Patašius also represents Lithuania within the consortium, actively participating in the definition of performance indicators and clinical protocols to implement more effective screening nationwide.

Why NIB biotec's rapid urine test could be crucial for Lithuania

Our rapid test based on urinary biomarkers fits perfectly into the current needs of the Lithuanian healthcare system and the strategic objectives of PRAISE-U.

1. Support risk-based screening

Because PRAISE-U involves the use of PSA, risk stratification, and targeted imaging, a noninvasive, rapid, and repeatable test may represent a highly useful first screen for identifying men who should be referred for further investigation.

2. Reduces diagnostic waste and overtreatment

In the Lithuanian context, where PSA has led over the years to peaks in overdiagnosis and diagnoses of localized disease that are not always clinically relevant, a more specific biomarker may limit unnecessary biopsies and follow-ups.

3. Facilitates widespread and sustainable screening programs

Considering that Lithuania is the only country to have adopted a national PSA program since 2006, the introduction of a more targeted test can increase effectiveness and reduce costs in the long term.

An invitation to dialogue with investors, hospitals and research centers

Our mission is not limited to technological development: we want to build an international network that unites clinical research, investors, and healthcare systems to bring concrete solutions to the local community.

The meeting with LitBAN will be an opportunity to engage investors interested in health innovation, hospitals and research centers working in oncology diagnostics, and medical companies looking to collaborate on integrated solutions for treatment pathways.