Fellow Health Study Uncovers Source of Cell Free DNA in Seminal Fluid

New Research Paves the Way for Less Invasive Men’s Health Diagnostics

Fellow Health, a company focused on advancing male reproductive health through patient-centric testing solutions, announced today the publication of a study titled “Tissue of origin characterization of cell free DNA in seminal plasma: Implications for new liquid biopsies” in PLOS One. The research shows that seminal plasma is a rich source of cell free DNA (cfDNA) from somatic cells and provides new insights into its potential as a liquid biopsy for several conditions.

Men face a range of reproductive gland issues—such as fertility, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and prostate cancer—that often require multiple invasive diagnostic procedures. These typically begin with blood draws and imaging and can escalate to costly, uncomfortable biopsies, sometimes unnecessarily prompted by inconclusive or false-positive screening results.

While previous studies have demonstrated that seminal fluid harbors high levels of cfDNA, the exact tissue source of that cfDNA had not been determined, until now. The Fellow Health study found that men who had undergone vasectomies still had abundant cfDNA in seminal fluid, particularly high molecular weight cfDNA. When tissue of origin analysis was performed, the authors determined that in some subjects–including those without vasectomies–this high molecular weight cfDNA contained more than 20% of signal from the prostate. This proportion is substantially higher than what is typically detected in blood, suggesting that seminal fluid may offer a unique avenue for more targeted and less invasive diagnostics.

“Although scientists have hypothesized that seminal fluid may contain tremendous diagnostic potential, cultural discomfort around semen collection has slowed research progress,” said Kim Clark-Langone, PhD, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Fellow Health and senior author of the study. “Fellow Health has tackled these concerns by offering comfortable, convenient at-home semen collection for fertility and post-vasectomy tests, so extending this same model to other aspects of men’s health was a natural next step for us.”

“Not only are prostate biopsies uncomfortable for the men who actually need them, but each year, hundreds of thousands of men undergo biopsies that ultimately aren’t necessary,” said Brian Hogan, CEO of Fellow Health. “This research points toward a future where mail-in semen analysis could help men diagnose and monitor a range of conditions more comfortably. It’s an important milestone on our journey to make men’s health more accessible and patient-focused.”

About Fellow Health

Founded in 2018, Fellow Health is a pioneering company dedicated to advancing male reproductive health through innovative and comprehensive mail-in testing solutions. The company partners with more than 1,500 top clinical practices, processing over 300 patient samples daily through their CLIA-certified lab, and is the only mail-in fertility test with peer-reviewed validation data. Fellow Health has secured funding from leading life sciences and technology investors, including 5AM Ventures, Genoa Ventures, Human Capital, and Mantis Venture Capital.

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