Volition Reports Breakthrough in Liquid Biopsy: Achievement of over 99% Purity in Isolating Cancer DNA

Rhea-AI Summary

Volition (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) reports a claimed world‑first method, Capture‑Seq™, producing >99% pure circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from plasma. The company submitted an updated manuscript and reports blinded cohort detection of 49/49 and 13/14 cancers. Volition cites a combined TAM of approximately $36 billion.

The company says it is in active discussions with diagnostic partners and expects the updated preprint on Research Square shortly.

Positive

• >99% pure ctDNA sequencing datasets achieved
• 49/49 cancers detected in first blinded cohort
• Validated detection in second blinded cohort: 13/14
• $36 billion combined TAM cited for MCED and MRD
• Company in active discussions with potential licensing partners

Negative

• Method captures a subset of ctDNA and may miss some tumor fragments
• Reported results derive from small validation cohorts; larger studies pending
• Updated manuscript is a preprint submission and not yet final peer‑reviewed publication
• Commercial rollout requires further development, validation, and partner agreements

News Market Reaction – VNRX

+5.26% 13.1x vol

52 alerts

+5.26% Session close to close

+77.8% Peak Tracked

-15.6% Trough Tracked

$29.25M Market Cap

13.1x Rel. Volume

In the Mar 18 session, VNRX gained 5.26%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +77.8% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -15.6% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 52 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 13.1x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

The stock moved +5.3% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the...

Analysis

The stock moved +5.3% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the highly favorable technical profile of this update, which described >99% pure ctDNA isolation and perfect detection of 49/49 cancers in an initial cohort. Historically, some positive news produced sizable gains while others saw selloffs, so investors have treated good headlines inconsistently. Existing registered resale shares from prior financings could still weigh on sustained upside if selling pressure emerges.

Key Figures

Total Addressable Market: $36 billion ctDNA purity: >99% First cohort detection: 49/49 cancers +5 more

8 metrics

Total Addressable Market $36 billion Early cancer detection and MRD combined TAM target

ctDNA purity >99% Purity of circulating tumor-derived DNA isolated with Capture-Seq

First cohort detection 49/49 cancers Detected in first cohort with no false positives reported

Early-stage cancers 23 patients Early stage I/II cancers in first cohort

First cohort controls 21 controls Non-cancer controls in first cohort

Second cohort detection 13/14 cancers Later stage cancers detected in blinded validation cohort

Second cohort controls 10 controls Additional non-cancer controls in second cohort

Human MCED TAM $23 billion Annualized TAM for multi-cancer early detection use

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 06 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Mar 06	Vet test automation	Positive	+0.7%	Automated Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test launch with Fujifilm Vet Systems in Japan.
Feb 25	Multi-pillar progress	Positive	+25.6%	Commercial and clinical momentum, including Capture‑Seq and reimbursement progress.
Feb 10	New distributor deal	Positive	-3.0%	Appointment of Japanese distributor for Nu.Q® Discover assays and TAM update.
Feb 09	Listing non-compliance	Negative	-3.0%	NYSE American notice on stockholders’ equity non‑compliance and required plan.
Feb 04	Clinical data symposium	Positive	-4.5%	Nu.Q® NETs HS data and commercialization across Europe with large TAM.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive commercial and clinical updates often led to modest gains, while some favorable news saw negative reactions, suggesting inconsistent follow‑through on good headlines.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Volition reported several commercial and clinical milestones. On Feb 4, 2026, it highlighted Nu.Q® NETs data and a $3.8 billion TAM. Subsequent news included a NYSE American non‑compliance notice on Feb 9, a new Nu.Q® Discover distributor on Feb 10, and multi‑pillar commercial progress, including Capture‑Seq, on Feb 25. Most recently, on Mar 6, it announced automated Nu.Q® Vet testing in Japan. Today’s Capture‑Seq purity breakthrough extends this ongoing clinical and platform development narrative.

Key Terms

circulating tumor-derived dna, liquid biopsy, chip-seq, ctcf, +4 more

8 terms

circulating tumor-derived dna medical

"first to demonstrate the isolation and analysis of >99% pure circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA)."

Fragments of DNA that cancer cells release into the bloodstream, detectable through a blood test much like finding crumbs that reveal what’s been eaten. Investors care because these fragments act as a noninvasive marker to detect cancer, track how well treatments are working, and spot recurrence earlier, influencing the value of diagnostic tests, targeted therapies, and companies running clinical trials that rely on faster, cheaper ways to measure patient response.

liquid biopsy medical

"biggest problem facing liquid biopsy worldwide is that the vast majority of circulating DNA"

A liquid biopsy is a laboratory test that looks for tiny pieces of tumor or disease-related material — such as DNA, proteins, or cells — circulating in blood or other body fluids, allowing detection and monitoring without a surgical tissue sample. For investors, it matters because these tests can speed diagnosis, guide treatment choices, enable easier repeat testing, and create recurring revenue streams if adopted widely, affecting a medical company's growth and regulatory risk profile.

chip-seq medical

"cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq: Measurement of altered CTCF binding in cancer"

ChIP‑seq is a laboratory method that maps where specific proteins bind to DNA across the genome by isolating those DNA fragments and reading their sequences. For investors, it matters because the results reveal regulatory “on/off” sites that guide gene activity, helping drug developers identify targets, validate mechanisms, or create diagnostic markers—like a city map showing where key workers operate during rush hour.

ctcf medical

"for isolating CTCF-DNA from plasma. Our continuing work on CTCF-bound DNA has revealed"

CTCF is a protein in cells that binds DNA and helps organize the genome, acting like an architectural manager or traffic controller that determines which genes are accessible to be turned on or off. Investors care because changes to CTCF—through mutations or drugs that affect its function—can alter disease pathways, create diagnostic markers, or become therapeutic targets, which may materially affect the prospects and value of biotech and pharmaceutical firms.

cfdna medical

"transcription factor protected cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq: Measurement of altered"

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is short fragments of genetic material that float freely in the bloodstream after cells die and release their contents. Investors care because cfDNA can be sampled with a simple blood draw to reveal signs of pregnancy complications, organ damage, or cancer without invasive procedures, making it the basis for high-growth diagnostic tests, monitoring tools and companion products that can change how diseases are detected and treated.

minimal residual disease medical

"multi-cancer early detection (MCED) approach, either alone or in combination ... and the detection of Minimal Residual Disease."

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is the tiny number of cancer cells that remain in the body after treatment, often too few to show up on standard scans but detectable with very sensitive tests. For investors, MRD is important because it predicts the risk of relapse and can determine whether a therapy is seen as effective, influences regulatory and reimbursement decisions, and affects the size and timing of a drug’s market opportunity—like spotting the last weeds that can make a garden regrow if not removed.

multi-cancer early detection medical

"shows potential for both a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) approach, either alone"

A multi-cancer early detection test is a medical screening tool—often a simple blood test—that looks for biological signals, such as abnormal DNA or protein patterns, that could indicate many different cancers before symptoms appear. For investors it matters because successful tests can reshape demand for diagnostics, influence healthcare spending and insurance coverage, and create new revenue streams or risks for companies across diagnostics, treatment and screening services; think of it as a smoke alarm that can warn of problems throughout an entire house rather than just one room.

biomarker medical

"is a novel biomarker for liquid biopsy1"."

A biomarker is a measurable indicator found in the body, such as in blood or tissues, that provides information about health, disease, or how the body responds to treatment. For investors, biomarkers can signal the potential success or risk of medical products or therapies, influencing the value of related companies and industry trends. They act like signals or clues that help assess the progress of medical advancements and their market impact.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

• Targets $36 Billion TAM in Early Cancer Detection and MRD.
• Company in active discussions with global diagnostic leaders to accelerate commercialization.

HENDERSON, Nev., March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, is the first to demonstrate the isolation and analysis of >99% pure circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA). Volition announces the submission of an updated manuscript entitled "Direct analysis of transcription factor protected cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq: Measurement of altered CTCF binding in cancer is a novel biomarker for liquid biopsy¹".

The biggest problem facing liquid biopsy worldwide is that the vast majority of circulating DNA in blood plasma samples comes from healthy cells, not cancer cells. In a world first new technology, Volition has overcome this hurdle and produced >99% pure cancer derived plasma DNA sequence sets for liquid biopsy.

Dr Jake Micallef, Chief Scientific Officer, Volition commented:

"Distinguishing cancer derived plasma DNA from healthy DNA when the two are mixed is problematic. When the cancer DNA makes up 1% or less of the total DNA it is extremely problematic.  Moreover, DNA from cancer and healthy cells has the same double helix structure and has never before been separated chemically.

"Our manuscript, submitted in November and previously announced in December 2025, described a new liquid biopsy chemistry for isolating CTCF-DNA from plasma. Our continuing work on CTCF-bound DNA has revealed what we believe to be an unprecedented new discovery; that there is almost no CTCF-bound DNA in healthy plasma and almost all CTCF-bound DNA in the blood of a cancer patient is derived from cancer cells – i.e. it is virtually pure circulating tumor-derived DNA.

"Removal of background normal cell free DNA from the blood to reveal this level of tumor derived DNA has been a long term goal of liquid biopsy. I believe this is a world-first and could, in my opinion, represent the biggest scientific breakthrough in cancer testing and monitoring in recent years.

"In this updated manuscript we report a new, two-step method for preparing pure circulating tumor DNA data sets for cancer patients:

i.  physical enrichment of the sample and
ii. bioinformatic removal of virtually all remaining non-tumor cfDNA sequences from the DNA sequence data set.

"This new method produced >99% pure ctDNA sequencing data sets for blood samples from cancer patients and, whilst we capture a subset of the ctDNA (i.e. not all the ctDNA in a sample), it is virtually pure cancer DNA.

"These methodological and technological breakthroughs represent a novel liquid biopsy method for a novel class of potentially thousands of liquid biopsy sequence biomarkers.

We call this technology "Capture-Seq™" and it shows potential for both a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) approach, either alone or in combination with other tests, and the detection of Minimal Residual Disease.

"Volition is, I believe, the first liquid biopsy company to focus on circulating cell free nucleoproteins and we have filed a number of new patents to protect this technology."

Dr Andrew Retter, Medical Consultant, Volition commented:

"From a clinical perspective, the proof of concept and early blinded validation results reported in this paper are extremely encouraging. In two independent cohorts we reported no false positives and detected 49/49 cancers in the first cohort (including 23 early stage I/II and 21 controls) and validated it in a second blinded cohort with 13/14 later stage cancers detected with 10 additional controls  We are now working on a further validation cohort of early stage cancers, and expect this data soon.

"For patients, the potential significance is huge. If validated in larger cohorts, CTCF Capture-Seq™ could contribute to multi-cancer early detection and disease management, particularly in combination with Volition's existing Nu.Q® assay for lung cancer (H3K27me3) but potentially in combination with other technologies too."

Mr. Gael Forterre, Chief Commercial Officer, Volition added:

"This scientific breakthrough has generated a lot of interest with potential licensing partners.

"We feel that this technology could, with further development, become very widely used, in both the human and potentially the veterinary market, not only for multi-cancer early detection but also the detection of Minimal Residual Disease.

 "We believe this represents a significant commercial opportunity with a Total Addressable Market on an annualized basis of approximately $23 billion² for the human MCED use, and over $13 Billion² for MRD.

"We are in active discussions with several large liquid biopsy and diagnostic companies to accelerate the development and launch of this technology as soon as possible."

The updated paper should be available on the preprint service Research Square in the coming days.

1. LINK TO Research Square
2. Data on File : Volition TAM Model

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics. Volition is dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people and animals with life-altering diseases through earlier detection, as well as disease and treatment monitoring.

Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing and commercializing simple, easy to use, cost-effective blood tests to help detect and monitor a range of diseases, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. Early detection and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and an office in London.

The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. Such website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only.

Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor, Volition, mediarelations@volition.com +44 (0)7557 774620

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release or associated video or link may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, Volition's expectations related to revenue opportunities and growth, the effectiveness and availability of Volition's blood-based diagnostic, prognostic and disease monitoring tests, Volition's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer and other diseases as well as serving as a diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring tools for such diseases, Volition's expectations regarding future publications, Volition's success in securing licensing and/or distribution agreements with third parties for its products, and Volition's expectations regarding the terms of such agreements. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products Volition might develop; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring market and its rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Nucleosomics™, Capture-PCR™, Capture-Seq™ and Nu.Q^® and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release or associated video or link are the property of their respective owners. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, all references to "$" refer to the legal currency of the United States of America.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11jftp4Vcw

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volition-reports-breakthrough-in-liquid-biopsy-achievement-of-over-99-purity-in-isolating-cancer-dna-302717364.html

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited

FAQ

What purity level did Volition (VNRX) report for isolating cancer DNA on March 18, 2026?

They reported achieving greater than 99% purity in isolating cancer‑derived plasma DNA. According to Volition, this was produced using their new Capture‑Seq™ method combining physical enrichment and bioinformatic filtering.

How accurate were Volition's (VNRX) blinded cohort detection results in the announcement?

Volition reported detecting 49 of 49 cancers in the first cohort and 13 of 14 in a second cohort. According to Volition, these are early blinded validation results that require larger cohorts for confirmation.

What commercial market size did Volition (VNRX) cite for Capture‑Seq™ in their March 18, 2026 release?

The company cited approximately $23 billion for multi‑cancer early detection and about $13 billion for MRD, totaling near $36 billion. According to Volition, these figures come from its internal TAM model.

What are the next validation and publication steps for Volition's (VNRX) Capture‑Seq™ technology?

Volition said an updated manuscript is submitted and the preprint will appear on Research Square soon. According to Volition, further validation cohorts, including early‑stage cancers, are underway to expand clinical evidence.

How might Volition's (VNRX) Capture‑Seq™ integrate with existing Nu.Q® assays?

Volition suggests Capture‑Seq™ could complement Nu.Q® H3K27me3 assays for lung cancer and other tests. According to Volition, combined approaches may improve multi‑cancer early detection and disease monitoring strategies.

Does Volition (VNRX) have partners or commercialization plans for Capture‑Seq™?

The company reports active discussions with large liquid biopsy and diagnostic firms to accelerate development and launch. According to Volition, interest from potential licensing partners has already emerged following the scientific disclosure.