The Basque biocompany Proteomika, in collaboration with Cruces Hospital (Bizkaia), has developed a new technique to diagnose endometriosis, a pathology characterized by the presence and spread of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity, which might cause pelvic pain, painful menstruation and infertility.

The new technique which has been implemented is based on the discovery of markers found in samples of endometrial fluid, which can be used for early and non-invasive diagnosis of the condition. These samples are obtained in a simple and painless way, similar to a vaginal cytology smear. This is obviously a clear improvement on the techniques currently used, which consist of surgery requiring a general anaesthetic.

As well as Proteomika and Cruces Hospital, the Catalan pharmaceutical company Salvat and the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad de Madrid have also taken part in this project.

This research, carried out on over 100 women, has been published in the medical journal Human Reproduction, the most prestigious publication devoted to human reproduction, and has also been the subject of a patent application.

Proteomika, a Progenika subsidiary, is a biotechnology company founded in 2002 and located in the Bizkaia Technology Park. The main purpose and goal of this Basque biocompany is to develop and market tools for personalised medicine.