Early-stage angel investor Karna D Shinde has made a significant investment in Navaux, an innovative company based in Arkansas, USA, which is set to transform early cancer detection and treatment monitoring through its groundbreaking blood test, ACTIVH.

India is rapidly emerging as a hub for healthtech innovations. This trend is highlighted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25, which offers relief to cancer patients by exempting three crucial cancer treatment medicines from customs duty. This policy change aims to improve access to essential treatments.

Amidst this backdrop, this investment will play a pivotal role in helping Navaux, a company specialising in early cancer detection technology, establish connections within the Indian healthcare industry as they prepare to introduce their cutting-edge solutions to the Indian market.

Navaux's ACTIVH test, developed from preclinical studies, can predict the onset of cancer up to 3-4 years in advance. This early detection capability enables individuals to make crucial lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or drinking, adopting regular exercise, or eliminating processed foods, to potentially prevent the development of cancer.

Furthermore, ACTIVH is a critical tool for patients undergoing cancer treatments, providing real-time insights into the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation, or other therapies by monitoring Hepsin levels in the blood. A decrease in Hepsin levels indicates effective treatment, while an increase signals the need for alternative therapies.

For over a decade, Hepsin has been recognized for its role in prostate cancer progression. Traditional detection methods, targeting the inactivated form of Hepsin, posed challenges. However, Navaux's scientists have successfully identified activated circulating Hepsin in bodily fluids, leading to the creation of the ACTIVH liquid biopsy. This test, now analytically validated, is used to detect early metastasis, stratify risk, and monitor treatment response.