Third News reports on results from the CLiMB study, in which Helio Genomics’ blood test, HelioLiver, detected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) more effectively than traditional ultrasound. Conducted across 42 clinical sites in the United States and involving nearly 2,000 patients with cirrhosis, CLiMB stands as the largest prospective, multicenter trial to date for a liver cancer liquid biopsy test.
The data point to a clear advantage for the blood test. HelioLiver achieved an overall sensitivity of 47.8 percent for detecting HCC, compared with 28.3 percent for ultrasound. It was especially strong at catching the small, early tumors that matter most for treatment, with 37.8 percent sensitivity for tumors 4 cm or smaller versus 13.5 percent for ultrasound, and 40.0 percent sensitivity for stage 1 HCC versus just 10.0 percent for ultrasound. Importantly, it delivered this while maintaining non-inferior specificity.
These findings speak to an urgent need. Liver cancer has become a silent epidemic in the United States, with HCC mortality doubling since 1980, in part because current imaging often misses early and smaller tumors. “This landmark CLiMB study publication validates Helio Genomics’ leadership in delivering transformative, blood-based early detection that turns deadly surveillance gaps into lifesaving opportunities for patients with cirrhosis,” said Dr. Bharat Tewarie, CEO of Helio Genomics. The gap is real: only about 9 percent of cirrhosis patients keep up with recommended semiannual ultrasound screening, often because scheduling and transportation make regular imaging difficult.
By replacing a complex imaging visit with a simple blood draw, HelioLiver aims to close that gap and make early screening far more accessible. The article frames the test as part of a broader shift toward patient-centered cancer detection, one that could improve survival by catching liver cancer when it is most treatable and by reaching patients who have struggled to keep up with conventional surveillance.
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