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Thursday
18
September
17:00 CEST
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The PRO-C3 Story | Webinar: Fibroblast Activity is Highly Prognostic for Outcome in Over 50 Chronic Diseases

Fibroblast activity is a major cause of 35% of deaths in the Western world. Fibroblasts are key drivers of outcome in solid tumors as well as in fibrosis of the liver, lung, kidney, intestine, skin, and in heart failure. We need to quantify and change fibroblast activity to alter the trajectory of organ failure and patient outcomes.

PRO-C3 is one such measure of fibroblast activity. PRO-C3 was launched by Roche in May 2025, with the context of use (COU) as a diagnostic enrichment tool for liver fibrosis. There are many lessons to be learned from this in biomarker discovery and development. We will discuss the process of how an ELISA kit was advanced through CLSI validation into an RPA prototype assay with Roche, moving to IVD quality on the flagship 801 equipment, gathering data for CE launch, while simultaneously submitting to the FDA for 1) a Letter of Intent, 2) qualification advice, and 3) a full qualification package under the LITMUS consortium. This work resulted in an FDA Letter of Support—the first ever for a serological biomarker for the assessment of tumor fibrosis. This is a story of the work of hundreds of researchers and remarkable teamwork that would not have been possible without extraordinary stamina.

This webinar is a celebration of the PRO-C3 story and all the people involved. We will highlight the best diagnostic, prognostic, and pharmacodynamic data, demonstrating how dangerous fibroblast activity is for patients, as well as the role of PRO-C3 in drug development across a range of indications where the extracellular matrix is a key component. From cellular mechanisms to serological assessment in patients—this is about how to quantify and control fibroblast activity.

Naturally, we will also discuss weight-dependent and weight-independent approaches to modulating fibroblast activity, and the challenges and opportunities that follow.

 
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Format
60-70 minutes presentation followed by 20-30 minutes of audience Q&A.

Agenda
1. Introduction
- Welcome and overview of webinar objectives
- The clinical burden of fibroblast activity in chronic diseases
- Framing fibroblast biology as a therapeutic target
2. The PRO-C3 Biomarker
- What PRO-C3 measures: Active fibrogenesis and fibroblast activity
- Initial development and academic validation of the ELISA
- Translating research use into regulated diagnostics

3. Roche Collaboration and Industrialization
- Transitioning from ELISA to RPA prototype assay
- Validation to IVD standard on Roche 801 platform
- CLSI validation and CE marking process

4. Regulatory Milestones
- FDA engagement: Letter of Intent, Qualification advice, Full qualification package (under LITMUS)
- FDA Letter of Support: First for a serological tumor fibrosis biomarker

5. Clinical and Translational Applications
- Diagnostic, prognostic, and pharmacodynamic performance across diseases
- Use of PRO-C3 in liver fibrosis, solid tumors, pulmonary and kidney fibrosis
- Patient stratification and trial enrichment strategies

6. Mechanistic Insights and Modulation Strategies
- Fibroblast activity: Weight-dependent vs. weight-independent pathways
- Implications for therapeutic intervention design

7. Lessons from the PRO-C3 Development Journey
- Multi-disciplinary collaboration and sustained execution
- Integrating biomarker science, regulatory strategy, and platform scaling
- Opportunities for other biomarkers following a similar path

8. Q&A and Closing Remarks
- Open discussion with Dr. Morten Karsdal and Dr. Diana J. Leeming
- Final reflections on the future of fibroblast-targeted biomarker development

Speakers
Dr. Morten Karsdal and Dr. Diana Julie Leeming

Expected duration
90 minutes

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