Endogene.bio's menstrual blood breakthrough offers new route to endometriosis detection
Approach could allow scientists to use menstrual blood samples to diagnose and categorise endometriosis
A team of European researchers has unveiled a world-first method for detecting endometriosis using menstrual blood - a discovery that could transform how the condition is diagnosed and understood.
Endometriosis affects around one in ten women and is characterised by tissue similar to the uterine lining growing elsewhere in the body. The condition can cause chronic pain, fatigue, and infertility, yet diagnosis typically takes between seven and ten years, largely because confirmation requires invasive surgery.
The new approach, developed by Paris-based precision medicine company endogene.bio and validated in collaboration with hospitals in Gran Canaria and Barcelona, has already drawn interest from major pharmaceutical players, including Exeltis.
If proven at scale, it could shift endometriosis detection from what is now taking up to a decade, to a process measured in weeks - and without the need for invasive surgery.
Dr. María Teresa Pérez Zaballos, co-founder and CEO of endogene.bio said:
“Our world-first approach to endometriosis research and diagnosis is truly game-changing for women’s health. We wanted to design something that we as patients, but also as researchers, wished had existed.
“Many members of our team are endometriosis patients themselves, myself included. Our firsthand understanding of the diagnostic delays, clinical blind spots, and emotional toll of endometriosis shapes every decision we make, from sample collection design to clinical priorities.”
Decoding menstrual blood stem cells
The new breakthrough centres on menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) — a unique population of cells thought to drive lesion formation in endometriosis.
In most research, these cells are grown in the lab before analysis, a process that alters their molecular profile. The endogene.bio team instead worked with freshly isolated MenSCs, preserving their natural molecular state and offering a clearer snapshot of what’s happening inside the body.
By analysing these fresh samples using DNA methylation profiling - a technique already applied in cancer diagnostics - the team identified distinct chemical “tags” that regulate gene activity. The process achieved 81% diagnostic accuracy, distinguishing those with the disease from those without.
“By accessing the molecular signals in menstrual blood, we’re unlocking information about endometriosis activity that was previously only available through surgery,” continued Dr. María Teresa Pérez Zaballos.
“Our approach shows DNA methylation profiling is a reliable, non-invasive way to diagnose endometriosis. Our findings also support the use of menstrual blood as a stable diagnostic sample.
“This is a company built by scientists who understand the molecular complexity of the disease and by patients who know exactly where medicine has fallen short.”
The approach could allow scientists to use readily available menstrual blood samples to diagnose and categorise endometriosis in a significantly less invasive way than current methods - while also unlocking critical information about disease behaviour that imaging or biopsies cannot provide.
Why this matters
The findings have been welcomed as a major advance in understanding endometriosis biology and its molecular drivers.
Dr Francisco Carmona — former President of the International Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders, Head of the Endometriosis and Uterine Transplant Unit at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, and co-author of this study said:
“This study marks a significant leap forward in our mission to understand the biology of endometriosis.
“It has far-reaching implications: the methods tested could power the development of non-invasive patient stratification and diagnosis, better treatments and personalised care pathways, transforming the lived experience of patients with endometriosis and how we approach their care.”
The study, titled Whole-genome methylation profiling of menstrual stem cells identifies novel biomarkers for endometriosis, was carried out between March 2023 and September 2024. Results are publicly available on bioRxiv.
From lab bench to clinic
Founded in 2022, endogene.bio aims to close the female health gap by transforming cutting-edge molecular science into patient-centred diagnostics. Its team brings together experts in epigenetics, immunology, biophysics, computational biology and gynaecology - many of whom are themselves endometriosis patients.
After winning Insud Pharma’s ChemoStart competition earlier this year, endogene.bio signed a research partnership with Exeltis, a global leader in women’s health therapeutics. The next step for the company is to validate the approach in a larger patient cohort to support regulatory development of a non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis.
This endogene.bio study is part of a growing wave of research into menstrual blood which has long been dismissed as waste. On the contrary, it is emerging now as a rich, accessible source of biological insight.
If larger trials confirm early findings, this approach could dramatically shorten diagnosis times, improve clinical trial design, and give patients faster access to care tailored to their biology.