Inocras launches MRDVision with ppm-level sensitivity, setting new standard in cancer recurrence detection

Inocras, a leading innovator in whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics, today unveiled MRDVision, its new minimal residual disease (MRD) detection solution validated for clinical use. Building upon its earlier research-only availability, MRDVision now offers physicians an ultra-sensitive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection platform with a simulated limit of detection (LOD) reaching one part per million (ppm).

This launch represents a critical evolution for MRD testing, a segment within oncology diagnostics that has seen exponential growth over the past decade. As cancer management increasingly emphasizes early intervention and precision monitoring, MRD assays capable of detecting trace disease presence have become indispensable.

How Is MRDVision Different from Traditional MRD Assays?

Unlike traditional MRD platforms that compress tumor data into narrowly focused panels, MRDVision deploys a whole-genome tumor-informed cfDNA monitoring approach. Built by combining Inocras’s CancerVision™ WGS platform with Ultima Genomics’ ppmSeq™ technology, the MRDVision assay continuously scans the entire cfDNA genome without needing to create patient-specific panels.

This panel-free architecture enhances workflow efficiency, speeds up turnaround times, and provides significantly richer data per assay compared to traditional panel-based MRD tests such as Natera’s Signatera™ or Guardant Health’s Reveal™.

By maintaining the complete genomic insights of the primary tumor, MRDVision maximizes the detection probability of circulating tumor fragments, even at exceedingly low concentrations — a crucial advantage for monitoring post-treatment patients or early-stage recurrence.

What Did MRDVision’s Clinical Validation Reveal?

Clinical validation involved cfDNA samples collected from post-surgical ovarian and lung cancer patients. MRDVision detected tumor-derived ctDNA signals in 6% of patients that competitor assays had failed to identify, reflecting its superior sensitivity at low tumor fractions.

Analytical simulations using high tumor mutational burden (TMB) tumors and plasma sequencing at 100x depth confirmed a LOD of 1ppm — positioning MRDVision among the most sensitive MRD assays in the market.

Company leadership, including CEO Jehee Suh, emphasized that the panel-free whole-genome approach is designed to empower oncologists with earlier, more accurate insights into disease progression or remission. Suh said that MRDVision could set a new paradigm for how clinicians monitor therapeutic response and detect residual disease.

Why Does MRD Sensitivity Matter for Cancer Management?

Historically, the evolution of MRD testing has paralleled broader trends in liquid biopsy technologies, where ctDNA-based early detection has become a game-changer in oncology. From early commercial efforts by companies like Foundation Medicine to today’s diversified MRD-focused platforms, the market has moved sharply toward highly sensitive, non-invasive surveillance solutions.

A critical challenge for traditional assays has been their limited sensitivity at extremely low tumor fractions, often resulting in missed early recurrences. MRDVision addresses this challenge directly by detecting ctDNA at levels up to 100-fold lower than many first-generation MRD tests.

This heightened sensitivity not only enables earlier clinical action but also allows for more refined monitoring strategies, including therapy de-escalation decisions in certain patient populations.

Sentiment and Institutional Reaction: How Is the Industry Responding?

Although Inocras remains privately held, early sentiment around the MRDVision launch has been positive across oncology research circles and diagnostics industry analysts.

In the broader MRD sector, publicly listed players like Guardant Health, Natera, and Exact Sciences Corporation have all reported double-digit revenue growth in their MRD segments. For instance, Natera’s oncology revenue rose 45% year-over-year in 2024, driven largely by Signatera™ adoption. Analysts project the MRD testing market to grow from $1.5 billion in 2024 to over $4.8 billion by 2030, driven by earlier diagnosis initiatives and personalized medicine trends.

MRDVision’s launch is expected to increase competitive pressure on incumbents to upgrade their technologies, particularly by pushing toward true whole genome MRD monitoring instead of restricted gene panels.

Why Is MRD Testing Becoming Central to Oncology Strategy?

Over the last five years, major cancer centers have increasingly incorporated MRD detection into clinical decision-making pathways. Institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have published multiple studies supporting ctDNA-guided therapeutic adjustments.

The 2023 update to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines also formally recognized MRD as a key prognostic marker for colorectal and non-small cell lung cancers. These shifts have prompted payors to broaden reimbursement policies, making MRD testing more accessible and financially viable.

MRDVision’s combination of high sensitivity, rapid turnaround, and scalability positions it well to benefit from this systemic integration of MRD assays into standard oncology workflows.

What’s Next for Inocras and MRDVision?

Inocras plans to showcase its MRDVision validation results at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting on April 29, 2024. The company will also initiate special promotions targeting cancer researchers, oncologists, and biopharmaceutical collaborators interested in integrating MRDVision into upcoming clinical trials.

Market observers suggest that Inocras could become an attractive acquisition target for larger players such as Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, or Roche Diagnostics, all of whom are actively expanding their liquid biopsy capabilities.

Given its early-mover advantage in whole-genome MRD monitoring, Inocras could also explore partnerships or licensing agreements with pharmaceutical companies seeking high-sensitivity assays for drug development endpoints.

Could MRDVision Trigger a New Wave in Liquid Biopsy Innovation?

Industry experts believe MRDVision’s approach could signal the start of a broader migration toward whole-genome liquid biopsy solutions across oncology diagnostics. Analysts expect more entrants to invest in technologies capable of detecting MRD at ppm levels, especially as clinical evidence mounts for earlier therapeutic interventions driven by ultra-sensitive ctDNA detection.

If early adoption metrics align with projections, MRDVision could help accelerate this shift, reshaping the competitive landscape over the next two to three years.