North Central London Cancer Alliance and Cyted Health have begun an NHS Cancer Programme and Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) funded project of EndoSign® capsule sponge testing in high street pharmacies and community diagnostic centres. This will help identify oesophageal conditions that may lead to oesophageal cancer, spotting conditions that could lead to cancer earlier and reducing pressure on GP services. The project is already underway in Barnet, Haringey, and Islington and will remain open until June 2027.
At least 21 pharmacies in the three boroughs will refer people for the capsule sponge test following targeted conversations about heartburn and acid reflux in the pharmacy setting, with tests taking place at a pharmacy or Finchley Memorial Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre. Outreach teams and voluntary organisations across North Central London will also focus on reaching people experiencing homelessness, a group that experiences higher rates of cancer than the housed population, to identify those with relevant symptoms and refer them for testing.
As heartburn and acid reflux are common, many people do not raise them with a GP or other healthcare professional. However, persistent symptoms could be a sign of an underlying oesophageal condition, such as Barrett’s oesophagus – a pre-cancerous condition. Project COMPASS (Community Pharmacy Assessment for Barrett’s Oesophagus and Reflux symptoms) has been developed to make earlier diagnosis more accessible by offering the test through community settings.
The test involves the patient swallowing a small capsule attached to a strong, thin thread. After a few minutes in the stomach, the capsule dissolves, releasing a small sponge which collects cells from the oesophagus as it is gently pulled back up by the healthcare practitioner. The cells are then sent for testing, and the patient is only referred for an endoscopy if their test returns results that need further investigation.
The project is also being delivered elsewhere in England, helping identify those who require further investigation and demonstrating the value of community pharmacy diagnostics. EndoSign is already widely used across the NHS in secondary and primary care and has been nationally adopted across Scotland and Wales.
Dr Clare Stephens, Co-clinical Director, North Central London Cancer Alliance, said: “We are working to improve cancer survival by focusing on earlier diagnosis, and the capsule sponge test represents an important advance in helping us achieve this goal for oesophageal cancer. The test is simple, patient-friendly, and can be done in community settings that are convenient and familiar to patients. By identifying individuals who may be purchasing over-the-counter treatments at a pharmacy for symptoms such as persistent heartburn or reflux, we can investigate symptoms earlier, detect potential cancers sooner, and ultimately save lives. Through the collaboration with our partners, we have made this innovative test more accessible, closer to home, without necessarily needing to attend hospital.”
Richard Hardwick, Medical Director at Cyted Health, said: “We know that chronic acid reflux can sometimes lead to oesophageal cancer and that early detection is vital to improve the chances of survival for this deadly disease. Many people don’t realise that persistent heartburn or acid reflux are causes for concern. Piloting EndoSign in pharmacies brings a method for detecting early warning signs directly to the community, making it easier than ever for people to get checked. We’re proud to be working with the North Central London Cancer Alliance to show what this new diagnostic pathway could look like.”
Anyone over the age of 45 who is experiencing persistent heartburn or acid reflux can visit one of the participating pharmacies to ask about having the test.
For a list of participating pharmacies in the North Central London Cancer Alliance area, please visit: https://www.endosign.com/patient/pharmacy