The biotechnology company GoodGut, a member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, in collaboration with the Galician Department of Health, has initiated a pilot study of an innovative test based on quantitative PCR techniques. This test is intended to assess its potential integration into the Galician Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme. Previous studies have shown that GoodGut's test, by identifying a specific bacterial signature of colorectal cancer, can enhance the efficiency of disease diagnosis. 

This pilot study will be conducted in Ourense, within the framework of the Galician Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (PGDPCC), led by the General Directorate of Public Health. The aim of this study is to improve the efficiency of colorectal cancer screening programmes. 

Currently, for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, the immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) is used as a non-invasive test to identify individuals who require a colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and remove potential high-risk lesions. In this study, conducted as part of the PGDPCC, the use of GoodGut's test will be evaluated as a secondary analysis. 

It is expected that the GoodGut test will significantly improve the accuracy of the current diagnostic algorithm and reduce the number of colonoscopies by approximately 20%. In this regard, its implementation could help optimise the use of resources and alleviate the burden on both healthcare services and the economy of the healthcare system. Its incorporation would require minimal changes to screening protocols, as it is based on the widely used PCR technique and can be performed on the same sample collected for iFOBT analysis. 

This pilot study in Galicia will run in parallel with one taking place in Catalonia, both of which are crucial for validating the preliminary results obtained with more than 3,000 patients. Furthermore, it is expected that data will be obtained to support the effectiveness, efficiency, and utility of the test, as well as its economic impact on the healthcare system.