A Kazakh woman creates a $50 test that helps identify the risk of hereditary cancer

While the research is ongoing, we decided to tell you about the people who are building the market for women’s health technologies in the region.

Breast cancer is the most common oncological diagnosis among women in Central Asia. The problem is not just the number of cases, but the stage at which they are detected. In Uzbekistan, breast cancer is most often diagnosed at stage two or three, with a five-year survival rate of only about 42%. In Kazakhstan, approximately 5,000 new cases of breast cancer and around 1,200 deaths are registered annually. These figures largely reflect late diagnosis and unequal access to screening.

Gulnur Tuyenbayeva from Kazakhstan is building ProxDx — a fast, affordable genetic test for the risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer using a non-invasive sample. It can be performed directly in a local clinic for approximately $50 using simple equipment. The procedure is based on Sanger sequencing.

In an interview with The Tech, Gulnur explains how to move the BRCA test out of specialized laboratories and into ordinary clinics without losing accuracy, how a $50 test can be a sustainable model, and what early knowledge of one’s genetic risk means for women and their daughters.

Gulnur Tuyenbayeva, Founder of ProxDx, LinkedIn

Where it all began

Some cancer diagnoses are hereditary. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that normally protect cells from cancer. If a woman inherits a “defect” in one of them, her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer during her lifetime increases dramatically.

Knowing that you are a carrier changes the approach: you can start screening earlier and more frequently, and discuss prevention with your doctor.

Why BRCA testing remains inaccessible 

However, in Central Asia, BRCA testing is expensive and available in only a few laboratories in major cities; mutations characteristic of local populations are still poorly studied. For most women, especially those outside megacities, it is difficult to timely undergo the test and receive results.

A genetic laboratory in an ordinary clinic 

Today, DNA analysis and the search for BRCA genetic variants are designed for conveyor-belt processing of large volumes of samples. Usually, local medical staff collect the sample and then send it to a large regional center, sometimes thousands of kilometers away. This allows keeping the cost per sample low because expensive sequencing equipment processes many samples at once. But this model has its drawbacks: the sample must be collected, sent, wait in line at the laboratory, and then the result must return to the clinic. Each of these steps, especially the queue for analysis, can significantly delay the time it takes to receive the answer.

Our device works exactly the opposite way: it is a low-throughput analysis performed on-site using inexpensive equipment that does not require extensive training. We have returned to the original concept of Sanger sequencing via capillary electrophoresis — a method that is still considered the “gold standard” and is used as a verification tool for new sequencing technologies. We maintain accuracy using standard markers that run alongside the patient’s sample and regular verification runs. We also support CLIA certification for laboratories operating our equipment.

The $50 test: how the business model works 

Our goal is to supply affordable genetic testing systems to local laboratories worldwide, including low-income rural areas. The instruments and reagent kits are relatively inexpensive to produce compared to all existing alternatives, and we maintain a low margin to make the test accessible to as many facilities as possible. The target price is $50 per sample: this is the point where the model remains sustainable and the test remains locally accessible.

We plan to work with NGOs, charitable organizations, and other non-profit partners to expand access to diagnostic equipment. This is a sustainable business model built on serving the community.

Understanding risks and knowing one’s own genetic profile allows every woman to make informed decisions about further actions. Women at high risk can opt for more frequent screenings and examinations and plan them in advance with their doctor. The main thing is to provide every woman with the necessary information and knowledge so that decisions are made based on her unique situation and needs.

What stage is the project at and what’s next

ProxDx is currently at the prototype stage, and the product is still under development. The team is developing it using its own funds, planning clinical validation and CLIA certification, and is open to investment.

This material was prepared as part of the CA Femtech Landscape Study by Femtech Force. If you are creating solutions in the field of women’s health for women, doctors, and the healthcare system — from BioTech and MedTech to digital health, including social projects with monetization potential — please fill out the research questionnaire.