Smelling the Change in the Air: Sniffing Out Cancer Before it Starts
In the evolving battle against cancer, two pioneering Israeli companies, SpotItEarly and Edity Therapeutics, are using the power of bio-convergence to rewrite the rules of diagnosis and treatment. By integrating biology, engineering, artificial intelligence, and personalized medicine, they are delivering innovative solutions with the potential to save countless lives.
In a world where most cancer cases are diagnosed too late, SpotItEarly introduces a non-invasive, accessible, and highly accurate method for early detection. Their solution, backed by the Israel Innovation Authority, leverages an unexpected yet powerful ally: dogs. Trained to identify cancer-related scent signatures in human breath, these “four-legged sensors” work in tandem with a cutting-edge AI system that interprets their findings into precise medical data.
The process is simple but groundbreaking. After obtaining a prescription, users receive a test kit containing a face mask, similar to those used during the COVID pandemic. By breathing into the mask for three minutes and sending the sample back to SpotItEarly’s lab in Israel, users can expect results within just a few days.
“Our sensors, i.e., the dogs, need less than a second to give their indication about a sample,” explains Udi Bobrovsky, one of SpotItEarly’s four co-founders. “What takes time is the user’s appointment and the timing of the tests, and that’s what our technological system was built to address.”
Bobrovsky, a serial entrepreneur with experience in cyber, healthcare, and analytics, was driven by personal experiences to explore early cancer diagnostics. Founded in 2020, SpotItEarly is currently conducting trials in collaboration with medical centers in Israel and the U.S., initially focusing on breast and lung cancers, two of the most fatal and often late-diagnosed types of cancer.
“The canine ability to identify cancer-related scent signatures with a high degree of sensitivity has been studied scientifically for 25 years,” Bobrovsky notes. “Dogs have an extremely sophisticated nose and a sense of smell that is far more advanced than any other analytical sensor. No commercial electronic sensor achieves these levels.”
The dogs, trained over six months, work only two to four hours per day and are cared for by a dedicated team. The company’s proprietary algorithm presents samples to the dogs at precisely the right moment, improving both accuracy and efficiency. Their goal? To detect multiple cancer types from a single breath sample, thanks to distinct scent signatures and molecular profiles.
Unlike traditional screening methods, mammography, colonoscopy, etc., SpotItEarly’s breath test is painless, non-invasive, and low-cost. The kit doesn’t require refrigeration or medical staff for transport, making it ideal for remote or underserved populations. “In terms of user experience, we want to create something entirely different, one that encourages users to repeat the test regularly,” says Bobrovsky.
SpotItEarly has already conducted a large-scale clinical study, concluding in late 2024, focusing on breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers. “We achieved accuracy levels of nearly 94 percent in Cancer Stages 1 and 2,” Bobrovsky reports. “These are the early stages, when the potential for successful treatment is highest.”
Supported by the Innovation Authority’s R&D Fund and Bio-Convergence Program, SpotItEarly plans to launch its breast cancer detection product in 2025, followed by a lung cancer version. “We want to reach a point where people can order our kit directly, take the test, and receive an answer within just a few days,” says Bobrovsky.
Looking ahead, SpotItEarly aims to work with insurers to process millions of samples annually and refer individuals for follow-up care if necessary. “Our kit will bring many more people into the screening cycle, allow them to do it on a regular basis and, if necessary, detect the disease early and save their lives,” Bobrovsky concludes.
Programming the immune system to win
While SpotItEarly focuses on early detection, Edity Therapeutics is reimagining cancer treatment itself. Founded in 2020 near Rehovot’s Science Park, the company operates at the cutting edge of therapeutic protein engineering, AI, and genetic therapies. Its mission aims to make cell therapy effective against solid tumors, an area where conventional CAR-T treatments have struggled.
“Bio-convergence is not just a technological scientific development. By integrating biology, engineering, and Artificial Intelligence, we are creating technologies that can save lives and transform entire systems.”
Edity’s platform enhances T cells extracted from a patient’s blood by integrating two components: a receptor that recognizes cancer cells and a therapeutic protein that stays inactive until the tumor is detected. Once activated, the protein induces localized inflammation, prompting the immune system to treat the tumor as if it were an infection.
“I told myself we need a platform that can take the strongest immune cells and cause them not only to identify tumors, but also to activate a response that mobilizes the entire body,” explains Dr. Michal Golan-Mashiach, Edity’s founder. A computational biologist with a background in computer science, business, and bioinformatics, her diverse experience helped crystallize a new approach to immunotherapy.
Dr. Golan-Mashiach’s concept bridges the gap between passive targeting and active immune engagement. “No other approach currently combines cell engineering and controlled inflammation in this way,” she emphasizes.
By using real-time biological data and AI, Edity can rapidly design, test, and refine therapies. This allows for faster, safer, and more repeatable development compared to traditional methods. “It’s much more than research, it’s like witnessing the first signs of a life-saving possibility,” she says.
Edity’s international strategy includes development in Rehovot, preclinical trials in India through a partnership with Dr. Reddy’s, and a Boston-based management team. Clinical trials for ovarian and colorectal cancers are set to begin in 2027, targeting patients for whom all other treatment options have failed.
The process involves engineering T cells in a GMP-certified lab, conducting quality control, and reinfusing the cells under close inpatient monitoring. The goal: trigger a targeted immune response while minimizing side effects, a balance often difficult to achieve with current CAR-T therapies.
According to Dr. Golan-Mashiach their goal isn’t just to prove that technology works, but to do so in a way that enables treatment at an affordable cost. “Today’s genetic therapies can cost half a million dollars or more. Most people in the world can’t afford that, and it’s simply not sustainable for healthcare systems.
To address this, Edity is simplifying production, streamlining logistics, and tailoring its protocol for public healthcare. They are doing it today in just two week.” Not because they cut corners scientifically, but because they understand that the system must evolve.
Edity’s long-term vision goes beyond innovation, it includes building a stable, Israel-based company. Dr. Golan-Mashiach’s goal is is not to sell the company the day after a breakthrough, rather to build a long-term, stable company here in Israel, one that delivers the next generation of cutting-edge medical solutions. If one day Edity becomes the biotech equivalent of what Teva was for generics, They’ll know that they’ve succeeded.
Transforming hope into reality
Whether by enabling early detection through a simple breath or by engineering a systemic immune assault on tumors, SpotItEarly and Edity Therapeutics exemplify the promise of bio-convergence. With visionary leadership, bold science, and strong backing from the Israel Innovation Authority, these startups are building the future of cancer care.
In a world searching for smarter, faster, and more humane approaches to healthcare, these Israeli ventures are proving that sometimes, the best way to fight cancer is by thinking differently, one breath, one cell at a time.
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This article is part of a series exploring emerging technologies in Israel and how the Israel Innovation Authority leverages research, industry collaboration, and strategic investment to ensure Israel remains at the forefront of global innovation.
