1. What is the company Lipidica and what is the main goal of the Lipidica study and the lipidomic test?
Lipidica, a.s. is a spin-off company of the University of Pardubice that is developing a lipidomic test called LDPC (Lipidomics Diagnostic of Pancreatic Cancer), based on a unique patented method of lipidomic analysis. The company is part of the FONS JK Group, a.s., which has long-standing expertise in laboratory diagnostics and healthcare information systems, and has provided investment capital for further development.
Currently, Lipidica is conducting a study whose main objective is to verify the clinical performance of the lipidomic test and software for early detection of pancreatic cancer and to collect data necessary for its implementation into clinical practice. The test is non-invasive and is based on a routine blood draw.
Lipidica, a.s. has been selected to represent the Czech Republic at EXPO 2025. The method has been patented in Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. In 2023, the company also received the Neuron Foundation Award for successfully bridging science and business.
2. What exactly is the LDPC lipidomic test?
LDPC stands for Lipidomics Diagnostic of Pancreatic Cancer. It is a simple blood test based on the differences in lipid concentrations in blood plasma between healthy individuals and patients with pancreatic cancer. An integral part of the test is the evaluation of results using Lipidica’s proprietary software.
What are lipids?
Lipids (fats and fat-like substances such as cholesterol) help us understand how metabolism functions in the body. Cancer cells alter their energy and material metabolism, which is reflected in the composition of lipids in the blood. By monitoring lipids, we can detect changes associated with the risk or development of cancer.
3. Why is pancreatic cancer considered such a serious disease, and what would the success of Lipidica’s test mean?
In the Czech Republic, approximately 2,500 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year, and more than 87% of patients succumb to the disease. The main reason for this high mortality rate is late diagnosis, as the disease often remains asymptomatic for a long time.
If the benefits of the method are confirmed, it would be possible to detect the presence of pancreatic cancer using a simple blood test, ideally at very early stages, thereby significantly improving patient prognosis.
Simply put – the earlier the cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of survival.
4. How long will the Lipidica study take, when are the results expected, and when will the test be available to the public?
The study is expected to be completed in June 2026.
After the study is finished and final results are obtained, documentation will be prepared for the certification process of the test.
Once the test is certified, it will become available for public use. It is anticipated that the test could be launched during 2027.
5. How many people applied to participate in the Lipidica study, and why were so many not included?
A total of over 8,300 individuals filled out the questionnaire on the website www.lipidica.cz
Although the interest far exceeded expectations, only 283 participants were ultimately enrolled in Arm 2 of the Lipidica study.
The main reason is that a large number of applicants did not belong to the high-risk population and did not meet the strict inclusion criteria, such as having two or more close relatives with pancreatic cancer within one family line, meeting specific age criteria, or having certain genetic mutations.
6. Why does the Lipidica study have two arms, and who is included in them?
The Lipidica study consists of two arms. Arm 2 focused on the recruitment of individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Recruitment for this group ended in early June 2025, with a total of 283 participants enrolled. These individuals are continuing to be monitored and examined as part of the study.
Currently, recruitment for Arm 1 is actively underway. This arm includes patients newly diagnosed with operable pancreatic cancer.
Including both arms in the study is crucial for verifying the test’s ability to accurately distinguish between healthy and diseased individuals.
7. Will Lipidica’s test be broadly available to the general population, and will it be covered by health insurance?
Population-wide screening for pancreatic cancer is not currently recommended by the Ministry of Health or professional medical societies for the general population. The reason is that pancreatic cancer is not a statistically common disease, there is no simple blood test yet available for its detection, and there is a risk of false-positive results, which could cause unnecessary psychological distress.
At this stage, the lipidomic test is aimed at high-risk populations.
The company will, however, seek to have the test covered by health insurance in the future.
8. What are the current achievements of Lipidica, a.s., and where can I find more information?
Lipidica, a.s. has been selected to represent the Czech Republic at EXPO 2025, and its method has been patented in Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. In 2023, the company also received the Neuron Foundation Award for successfully bridging science and business.
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More information can also be found on our website Lipidica.cz and on our LinkedIn and Facebook profiles.
