Hyderabad-based healthcare startup PrecisionRNA Biotech (Prerna) has unveiled Cantel™, India’s first microRNA-based blood test designed for early breast cancer screening. This pioneering innovation aims to revolutionize cancer detection by providing a simple, accessible, and highly accurate alternative to traditional screening methods—addressing a critical gap that has long contributed to late-stage diagnoses across the country.
In India, where less than 2% of women undergo breast cancer screening, Cantel™ offers a scalable and patient-friendly solution. Unlike mammography, which often faces challenges related to cost, accessibility, and social stigma, Cantel™ is a minimally invasive blood test that can be performed at home or at local diagnostic centers—eliminating the need for compression, imaging, or radiation. This ease of testing is expected to boost screening participation and ultimately improve survival outcomes, which currently remain among the lowest worldwide.
The test harnesses the power of microRNAs (miRNAs)—tiny molecules that serve as dynamic biomarkers of disease. The 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine recognized the discovery of miRNAs and their vital role in gene regulation, underscoring their growing impact in modern diagnostics. Cantel™ employs proprietary miRNA signatures, validated through extensive clinical trials, to detect early molecular signals of breast cancer with high sensitivity and specificity.
“For far too long, breast cancer detection in India has been reactive. With Cantel™, we’re making it proactive, accessible, and designed around women’s real lives, empowering them to take control of their health with confidence and ease,” said Siddharth Reddy, Co-founder of CANTEL™ and a serial healthcare entrepreneur. “This is not just a diagnostic innovation. This is a step toward building a national health habit around early detection.”
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