IRBLleida and Indivumed extend their collaboration agreement for high-quality biospecimen collection supporting precision oncology research

IRBLleida recognized as Center of Excellence for tissue collection and biobanking for precision oncology research

HAMBURG, GERMANY - Representatives from Indivumed Therapeutics visited the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida (HUAV) and the Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida) in Catalonia, Spain, this week for the extension of the existing collaboration agreement by another five years. In addition, the IRBLleida has been recognized by Indivumed as a Center of Excellence for their outstanding performance in tissue collection that provides high-quality samples for comprehensive personalized oncology.

IRBLleida has been a key clinical partner of Indivumed since 2019, providing high-quality biosamples to support the identification of novel targets for next generation precision oncology drugs. They offer a precisely functioning biobank with established standards for tissue collection, good clinical and laboratory practices, strategically located and connected hospital and research facilities, effective interdepartmental workflow, excellent surgery-pathology-biobank communication, and extensive translational research experience.

Over the years, Indivumed has built a unique collection of the highest quality tumor and matched normal tissues that have been collected according to stringent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and snap frozen within an average of 10 minutes of surgical removal.

Minimizing this processing time, known as cold ischemia time, is crucial for obtaining reliable multi-omics data from samples and generating a true picture of cancer biology. This is particularly relevant for proteomic and phosphoproteomic data, which can change significantly with cold ischemia times longer than 10 minutes.

Working side by side with colleagues at HUAV – the largest public medical hospital in the province – IRBLleida has coordinated and carried out patient enrolment, sample collection and biobanking, anonymized follow-up data, and scientific analysis to the exacting standards required by Indivumed’s SOPs.

This effort is managed on a day-to-day basis by expertly trained IRBLleida and HUAV personnel, coordinating every step to achieve optimal sample quality. In turn, this ensures the reliability of downstream multi-omics analysis and drug target discovery that will later emerge from these precious specimens.

Dr. Xavier Matias-Guiu, Principal Investigator for the Indivumed collaboration and Chairman of Pathology at HUAV, said: “Although we have seen great progress in treating cancer in recent years, there is still an urgent need for more effective targeted treatments to control and cure this disease. We are proud to be playing our part in helping Indivumed Therapeutics build the highest quality cancer collection in the world, and excited to see the discoveries that will come from it.”

As a member of Indivumed’s Global Clinical Network, the team at HUAV receive detailed molecular information about the patient samples they have provided, to help guide clinical management.

Prof. Dr. Hartmut Juhl, Founder and CEO of Indivumed, said: “Through their commitment to quality at every step, IRBLleida has met the highest standards demanded by Indivumed in the search for novel cancer targets, and we are delighted to award them their status as a Center of Excellence. As one of our key clinical partners, their hard work and outstanding performance are essential for collecting the highest quality samples that capture the molecular reality of cancer and enable the discovery of novel targets for next generation cancer therapeutics.”

About IRBLleida

Since its foundation in 2004, IRBLleida has set the benchmark for biomedical research, contributing to scientific and innovative advances to improve public health. As a collaborative institution involving the University of Lleida (UDL), Dr. Pifarré Foundation, the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), and the Hospital Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida (HUAV), IRBLleida aims to create synergies between basic, clinical, translational, and epidemiological research to improve daily clinical practices and benefit the entire population. With over 37 research groups, 485 investigators, and more that 4,400 scientific publications, the institution plays a crucial role in advancing biomedical research, benefiting both clinical practice and public health in Spain and beyond.

About Indivumed Therapeutics

Indivumed Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on precision oncology. We create screening-ready novel target packages and partner with the pharmaceutical industry to develop precision cancer therapeutics.

With our global network of selected partner clinics, we have created unique protocols and procedures to collect tissue of unmatched quality and variety. By systematically characterizing the tissue at a molecular level and linking it with longitudinal clinical data, we can unravel novel targets that would otherwise be undetectable.

Combining biomathematics, bioinformatics, and cell biology, we identify targets and design proof-of-concept drug screening assays for successful development further down the pipeline. 

We envision a world where precision therapy offers a cure for every cancer patient.